NAWILIWILI — When the Avis Budget rent a car shuttle bus made a left turn off Rice Street Thursday afternoon, it was not to pick up rental car patrons from the cruise ship moored at Nawiliwili Harbor.

Instead, associates of the Avis Budget Group poured out of the doors, unloading a cache of 459 pounds of food that had been nestled on the shuttle’s onboard baggage racks and presenting it to the Kauai Independent Food Bank.

“We just talked it up among the associates,” said Thomasyna Bungala, an Avis Budget Group associate. “Someone posted the notice on the bulletin board and we just started talking it up with the other people we work with.”

The contribution is added to the KIFB Spring Food and Fund Drive that continues through April 30, said Leona Perez, KIFB programs manager.

The spring drive has a goal of collecting 45,000 pounds of nutritious, healthy food, and $45,000.

“These foods are going to be used to help with the KIFB programs, including the keiki backpack, after-school healthy snacks, and kupuna shopping programs,” said Kelvin Moniz, KIFB executive director. “We take care of people island wide with the help of the different agencies that partner with KIFB to make these programs possible.”

People who want to contribute to the KIFB Spring Food and Fund Drive can drop off their contributions at any fire station on the island, or by dropping off contributions to the KIFB facility, 3285 Waapa Road in Nawiliwili.

Information: 246-3809

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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.