Sacred Hearts School kindergarten students Sosaia Mamao and Ofakiolohau Folaumoeloa pose for a photo in front of the Penne Pasta Food Truck with owner Juan Gomez at the pickup window. Photo courtesy Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset

The Hawaii Rotary District 5000 Foundation Maui Fires Relief Fund has donated $15,000 to Sacred Hearts School to support the school’s lunch program for students in need.

According to Katy Shroder, president of the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset, the club was offered after-school access to a classroom for the club’s bi-monthly meetings, and Principal Tonata Lolesio has been accommodating each time the club outgrew its meeting location.

“To say thank you, our club gave the school a very nominal donation,” Shroder said.

Sacred Hearts current location has neither kitchen nor cafeteria, and they have partnered with a food truck vendor who lost his restaurant in the 2023 fire.

In response to the donation, Lolesio expressed gratitude to Shroder, the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset and the Rotary D5000 Foundation Board, saying the school would use the money for its lunch assistance fund.

“This initiative provides free or reduced-cost healthy lunches for our students and will be matched by a donor, Eternal Crystendom, to help us reach our $40,000 goal,” Lolesio said. “Thanks to this generous grant of $15,000, we are making significant progress in supporting our school ohana and ensuring that every child enjoys a happy and healthy lunch from lunch manager Juan Gomez of Penne Pasta.”

For more information about Maui’s Rotary Clubs, email Maui Island Resource Chair Joanne Laird at mamalrd01@gmail.com.