LIHU‘E — Volunteers are referred to as the “army behind The Army” in the program booklet for the Salvation Army Annual Advisory Board and Volunteer Mahalo Luncheon, Thursday, at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center. Katie Beer, the new board chair, said
LIHU‘E — Volunteers are referred to as the “army behind The Army” in the program booklet for the Salvation Army Annual Advisory Board and Volunteer Mahalo Luncheon, Thursday, at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center.
Katie Beer, the new board chair, said this year the board borrowed an idea from O‘ahu and honored an outstanding volunteer from the Lihu‘e Corps and the Hanapepe Corps.
The luncheon was part of the week-long Salvation Army Week celebration where volunteers who help with the various programs throughout the year are given acknowledgment for their efforts.
“The Salvation Army assisted in many ways to give more than 20,000 individuals the assistance they needed,” said Salvation Army Envoy Larry Groenleer in a program letter. “Whether it was food, clothing, shelter, utility assistance, Christmas help or spiritual counseling, your (volunteers and Advisory Board members) in providing for others’ needs is truly a blessing.”
Volunteers play a crucial role in The Salvation Army’s ability to provide quality services for the entire community, according to literature for the nonprofit.
This was demonstrated by the Lihu‘e Lutheran Church and the Kalaheo Missionary Church, selected as the Outstanding Volunteer Group of the Year for the Lihu‘e and Hanapepe Corps., respectively.
“Since the start of the Kokua Soup Kitchen program in 2005, the Lihu‘e Lutheran Church members have been helping with the Kitchen,” Groenleer said. “When the Kitchen started, they were serving almost 2,000 meals a month, and in 2009, that amount has almost doubled.”
Going beyond helping with the main meal, the Lihu‘e Lutheran Church members provide each person who comes to the Kokua Soup Kitchen with a Mobile Munchie, a little extra to help tide them over until the next meal.
Groenleer said when the Kokua Soup Kitchen program started, the Lihu‘e Lutheran Church was distributing 2,300 Mobile Munchies a month. This has grown to where they distributed 20,000 Mobile Munchies last year.
Similarly, the Kalaheo Missionary Church extends its help to the Hanapepe Corps, said Salvation Army Lt. Sarah Smuda.
“They not only help with meals once a month, they are there whenever there is something that needs to be done,” she said. “On Christmas Eve, they man not one but two Red Kettles at the ‘Ele‘ele Big Save where they collect more than other groups at the same spot.”
Smuda said Kalaheo Missionary Church volunteers also help coordinate the Thanksgiving turkey distribution through Winona Mitchell, and also help financially, hosting food drives when the pantry needs help.
Katie Beer took over the reins of the Advisory Board chair from Faye Akasaki who remains on the board as vice chair.
Members of the 2010-2011 board were inducted by visiting Salvation Army Majors Jeff and Eloisa Martin who also inducted new board member Pam Chock.
Beer said Chock was instrumental in having board members and others help prepare the food for the luncheon so volunteers could enjoy themselves instead of having to help make the food.
Larry Rivera, a perennial performer at the Lihu‘e Community Thanksgiving Luncheon, provided some impromptu entertainment, setting the stage for remarks by state Rep. Roland Sagum.
The Salvation Army Week wrapped up Saturday with a performance by the Salvation Army Youth Group at Kukui Grove Center.
“On behalf of The Salvation Army and those we served last year, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to each one of you for your very generous gift of aloha,” Groenleer said. “You make a difference in the lives of others.”
