Media release from Mahalo Broadcasting

Will Zucker is hiking against hunger.   Zucker, sales manager at Mahalo Broadcasting (LAVA 105.3fm/KKOA 107.7 fm/KHNU 620 am), will walk the 126 miles  from Hilo up the Hamakua Coast, through Waimea and Waikoloa to Kona, to raise awareness of the need for donations to Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s food bank.

Zucker says his goal for this year’s Hike Against Hunger is 110,000 pounds of food, or the equivalent, donated at KTA stores around the island during his hike. But he says he really hopes to get to 150,000. In his 2011 Hike Against Hunger, he raised the equivalent of 100,000 pounds of food—a combination of nonperishable food donations and cash, which the Food Basket uses to buy food.

The Food Basket is an island wide, supplemental food network that collects and distributes nutritious, high quality food to low income households,  the working poor, the disabled, the ill, senior citizens, children’s programs and other charitable organizations that serve this population. Supplemental food is provided regardless of religious beliefs, gender or ethnicity.

Zucker will start by spending a day at KTA at Puanako on Saturday, November 3, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and on Sunday, November 4, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., collecting food and donations.   November 6 and 7, he’ll be walking up the Hamakua Coast, camping out overnight, with plans to arrive at KTA Waimea by Wednesday, November 7 for a 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. food collection.    The morning of Thursday, November 18, he’ll walk from Waimea to Waikoloa KTA for a food and donation collection lasting from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.  He plans to walk from Waikoloa to KTA in Kailua-Kona in the Kona Coast Shopping Center on Palani Road the morning of Friday, November 9.  The food and donations collection will be at KTA Kona Friday, November 9 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.   Saturday morning, November 10, he’ll walk from the Kona KTA to Keauhou KTA, for an all-day food and donation collection from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The final day of food and cash collection will be at KTA Keauhou on Sunday, November 11 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

This is Zucker’s fourth annual Hike Against Hunger.    Hawaii Island Food Basket says the holidays are the most desperate time of the year, with the demand for food being highest.  They are seeking donations of nonperishable food, especially meats and protein.  They also welcome cash donations, as each dollar donated can purchase seven pounds of food.

Those wishing to “Walk with Will” should call him at 990-0990.

There is more information about Hawaii Island’s Food Basket at their web site, www.foodbaskethi.org.   Nani Lee, Director of Hawaii Island Food Basket also welcomes questions about The Food Basket at 933-6030