News Release

November 19, 2007
HMSA employees donate food and money to Hawaii Foodbank

Laura Lott
(808) 952-7566
laura_lott@hmsa.com

Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) employees today made a special Thanksgiving donation to the Hawaii Foodbank to help alleviate hunger during the holidays. The Foodbank received $15,300 and 7,756 pounds of canned goods and other non-perishable items from HMSA employees on Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii.

“Each year, over 131,000 people in the Islands receive food collected by the Hawaii Foodbank,” says Dick Grimm, president of Hawaii Foodbank, Inc. “The need is even greater during the holidays. So we really appreciate the generosity of HMSA’s employees on Oahu and the Neighbor Islands. It’s clear they care about the community, and we’re very thankful they step forward each year with their holiday donation.”

Over a four-week period, teams of HMSA employees challenged each other to collect food items. Teams were motivated by a friendly competition between departments. Monetary donations were also collected to help families have an enjoyable Thanksgiving.

“Our annual Thanksgiving food drive is one way HMSA employees make a difference in the community during the holidays,” said Laura Lott, HMSA manager of Community Relations. “They really enjoy the competition, but it is the true spirit of aloha and holiday giving that motivates them to participate each year.”

Hawaii Foodbank, Inc.

The Hawaii Foodbank is the only nonprofit 501(c)(3) agency in the state of Hawaii that collects, warehouses and distributes mass quantities of perishable and non-perishable food to 250 charitable agencies as well as food banks on the Big Island, Maui and Kauai.

Last year, the Hawaii Foodbank distributed nearly 8 million pounds of food, including 1.4 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. It serves 270 member agencies representing 289 programs across Oahu. Member agencies are Hawaii’s food pantries, feeding programs for children and the elderly, homeless and abuse shelters, rehabilitation centers, and soup kitchens.

Their mission statement is: “The people of Hawaii are one ohana. The Hawaii Foodbank provides food so that no one in our family goes hungry. We work to gather food and support our communities. We then distribute food through charitable agencies to those in need. Our mission is from the heart, and we will fulfill our mission with integrity, humanity and aloha.”

About HMSA

HMSA is a nonprofit, mutual benefit association founded in Hawaii in 1938. It is governed by a community board of directors that serves without compensation and includes representatives from health care, business, labor, government, education, clergy, and the community at large. HMSA is a member of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. Nationally, HMSA and 38 other Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans provide worldwide coverage to nearly 100 million members. For more information, visit hmsa.com.

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