Since the Hawaii Foodbank’s early days, Sheri Rolf has immersed herself in its annual Food Drive Day.

“It is the people whose lives are changed by someone caring enough to provide that can of Spam or bag of rice that drives my passion for the mission” of the food bank, said Rolf, who is chairing the 28th annual drive, which is set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

This year, an estimated 1 in 5 Hawaii residents will need food assistance. The food bank addresses that need by serving as a steadfast source for hunger relief in tandem with a network of food pantries, soup kitchens, rehabilitation centers, homeless shelters and domestic abuse centers. Some 123,000 households are now receiving assistance annually.

“Not everyone is able-bodied enough to provide all that they need for themselves. … People have accidents. They lose their jobs. They are on fixed incomes. They have medical or psychological trials,” she said, noting, “We are all one hurricane away from possibly needing the help of a food bank.”

While growing up in the Midwest, Rolf’s parents encouraged her to “grow roots and bloom quickly where I was planted.” After college, Rolf found herself on Hawaii soil, starting an advertising agency with her husband, David Rolf.

“I began helping with commercials and then small shopping center promotions within communities, and subsequently bigger profile events. One thing that is always a constant: I try to invest myself within the community or group we work with,” said Rolf, who is now vice president of Rolf Advertising.

Her work with the Foodbank started after the debut drive, when organizers glimpsed potential to expand a downtown-focused event. These days, key to Food Drive Day’s success is maintaining a lineup of thousands of volunteers — all clad in a drive T-shift that changes in color and design every year.

“Last year I was presented a quilt made of T-shirts from all the past years. It’s a treasured work of art and such a beautiful gift of appreciation,” she said. “When I look at the shirt squares, I see recipients of the millions of pounds of food collected over the years and I know that lives were made easier by the work of our teams of volunteers.”

For a listing of Oahu drive sites and more event information, visit www.hawaiifoodbank.org or call 954-7869.

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Question: What are Food Drive Day’s most-wanted items?

Answer: Canned proteins, such as Spam or Vienna sausage; canned meals, such as stew, spaghetti or chili; canned vegetables and fruits; and rice. The proteins are typically the most costly for Hawaii Foodbank (HFB) to purchase so these donations are especially appreciated.

Q: Ever receive donations other than food or money?

A: The food drive brings out the best in people and they want to help as they can. In addition to food and dollars, our donation nets have taken in sports medals, a diamond wedding ring and lots of foreign coins.

Q: How did islandwide participation take shape?

A: The first food drive was a simple “ask” for food donations at Restaurant Row (now Waterfront Plaza). Both food and dollars came in. Afterwards, a friend … suggested that the food drive was really a grass-roots type of promotion and belonged in the community, not just downtown.

Our advertising agency created promotions and marketing for community shopping centers. And after speaking with Dick Grimm, then HFB chair and board member, we decided to take it to the “burbs.” We first tried out Koko Marina as a drop-site, where we set up along the Kalanianaole Highway. The next year, Mililani. Then Pearl City, followed by Kaneohe. We now have nine official drop-sites … and two “Change Angels” sites that collect money only. Also, now, over a few short months, hundreds of businesses and community groups hold their own fundraising efforts leading up to Food Drive Day. It seems that every year has new challenges and we evolve a little more and focus on specific areas to improve.

There is no other food bank event like this in the country. Our food drive is truly a beautiful event. There are so many coming together to help so many they have never met. As chair, it is my privilege to see that these efforts come successfully together to help feed Hawaii’s hungry.

Q: Are we seeing a steady increase in need for food assistance?

A: Every four years Feeding America provides the survey statistics HFB uses. And, from our own statistics, the numbers show a steady rise in headcount of those served by food banks across the state from the days of the first food drive.

In 2004, HFB averaged 731,000 pounds of food distributed monthly. Last year, we averaged over a million pounds monthly on Oahu. Statewide, 118,000 individuals needed food bank assistance in 2004. Currently, that figure is 287,000 individuals.

Part of the rise is due to HFB’s ability to (gradually) reach more individuals over the years through our member agencies (now more than 200) that provide the food to the recipient. … Today there’s a pretty clear understanding of what our staff of 37 dedicated people do — provide food so that no one in our ohana has to go to bed on an empty stomach.

Q: Currently, some 46,000 clients are kupuna and nearly 48,000 are children. Does the food bank tailor operations in any way to serve them?

A: One of our favorites for over 10 years at HFB is the Keiki Backpack program. Since more than 90 percent of the students at Princess Kaiulani Elementary School qualify for free and reduced lunches, we put together a program where students take home a backpack filled with pasta meals, snacks and juices, milk, cereals, fruits and pudding cups on Friday and return it empty on Monday.

We have also started programs for low-income seniors, like the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which offers vouchers for fresh produce. Last year, from June through October, nearly 4,000 seniors had access to healthy fruits and vegetables.

The Senior Food Box program is also very successful. Last year, 2,746 qualifying seniors received monthly food boxes packed with staples.

We try to identify areas where the need is great and our resources can make a difference. We are recognized by Charity Navigator with a four-star rating for exceeding industry standards, and for financial accountability and transparency. For every dollar donated, 95 cents go right back into feeding Hawaii’s hungry. Only 5 cents go toward the administration of running the food bank.

Q: How many volunteers are needed to collect food and fishnet for dollars on Food Drive Day?

A: We hope to have 2,000 energetic volunteers on the sidewalks, dressed in colorful Food Drive T-shirts, with signs and long-arm fishnets collecting monetary donations. Teams of volunteers also collect food dropped off at the sites, weigh, wrap and load donations onto pallets for shipment to the food bank warehouse for distribution.

Roughly 50,000 pounds a day go through the warehouse doors to be distributed through agencies to those in need.

Q: How about the rest of the year? Is the food bank encouraging year-round, do-it-yourself drives and fundraisers?

A: Volunteers can, in addition to hosting their own much-needed food drives throughout the year, participate in additional events needing large numbers of volunteers, like the annual Food Drive Golf Tournament (February) and Great Chefs Fighting Hunger (March). One of the best things about volunteering for Hawaii Foodbank is that you know your time is so much appreciated by so many — by people needing a hand up.

Q: You also serve on the food bank’s board of directors. What does that role involve?

A: I joined the board somewhere in the 1990s, after I was named the chair. My responsibility is to see the Food Drive through each successful season. This is the HFB’s primary season of food- and monetary-raising … as well as for raising awareness of the hunger issue.

Q: What do you find most satisfying about your ongoing work with the nonprofit?

A: I feel lucky to have the privilege of serving in this position as this is the best volunteer job ever. I get to work with the HFB board members and staff and a team of dedicated volunteers and companies and community groups — all who join me in just wanting to help provide hope for tomorrow … to individuals who have a difficult time putting food on their tables.