WAIPAHU, HI — Hawthorne Cat is supporting more than 200 food banks and home-delivered meal service to seniors and individuals with disabilities this holiday season to help meet the sharp rise in hunger across communities.

Hawthorne, through its partnership with Aloha United Way, is donating $50,000, with two of the beneficiaries being Hawaii Food Bank and Hawaii Meals on Wheels for Kupuna to meet the rise in food insecurity. Launching this fund with Aloha United Way is part of a continuing community benefit effort for Hawthorne Cat.

“The holidays should be a time of joy, and the more families, the elderly, and those with disabilities we can help put food on the table, the stronger our communities will be,” said Bobby Whitworth, General Manager of the Pacific Region for Hawthorne Cat. “We chose to partner with Aloha United Way because we could easily direct resources to their partner agencies who are already serving communities with a statewide presence.”

“The agencies already communicate well between islands, and they can funnel food, information, or funds where they will make the most impact,” Whitworth continued.

This is part of a bigger continuing initiative at Hawthorne that the company is calling “Hawthorne Kahiau”. Hawthorne Cat named the company’s ongoing giving initiative Kahiau, because the meaning resonates with its mission, which is “we help our customers build better communities." In Hawaiian, Kahiau means to give generously or lavishly with the heart, and without expectation of return.