Kona Knights of Columbus pose with a haul of fruit to be delivered to a food bank. (Courtesy photo)
Kona Knights of Columbus pose with a haul of fruit to be delivered to a food bank. (Courtesy photo)
A lot of good fruit growing in private yards and gardens in Hawaii falls to the ground and rots, going to waste.
Seeing this, Kona Knights of Columbus started a program last year to pick the fruit and bring it to places that serve food to the poor. By the end of the year, they had harvested 4,300 pounds — that’s over two tons — of fruit from private residences and delivered it to The Food Basket, Hawaii Food Bank and The Friendly Place.
Food Basket executive director En Young has nothing but appreciation for their work.
“It is a shame that we’ve begun to see food on trees and in gardens as ‘rubbish’ or ‘waste’ that needs to be cleaned up,” he said. “We’re so thankful the Knights and their volunteers are helping us fulfill our mission of preventing the waste of edible food on Hawaii Island.”
Knights Harvest Program chairman and founder Steve Lopez said that his fraternity is proud to make this contribution and hopes the effort will expand.
“It was a superb first year and we could do so much more by partnering with other organizations,” Lopez said.
Anyone who would like to donate their excess fruit or vegetables, or who would want to partner in this work are asked to send an email to knightsharvest@gmail.com or call and leave a message at (808) 313-2799.