LIHU‘E — Hundreds of people took advantage of The Salvation Army’s 48th Annual Community Thanksgiving Luncheon, Wednesday at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall. “The Salvation Army is one of our bigger participating agencies,” said Scott Giarman, executive director of
LIHU‘E — Hundreds of people took advantage of The Salvation Army’s 48th Annual Community Thanksgiving Luncheon, Wednesday at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall.
“The Salvation Army is one of our bigger participating agencies,” said Scott Giarman, executive director of the Kaua‘i United Way, who oversaw the serving line, dropping in to replace empty food trays with filled ones.
Helping on the serving line was Lynette Medrano-Stine, the KUW community liaison.
“We have a lot of volunteers this year,” said Melinda Uohara of the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i, a perennial volunteer agency at the annual luncheon. “I can concentrate on getting photos because there’re so many volunteers.”
Katie Beer, chair of the luncheon as well as chair of The Salvation Army of Kaua‘i Advisory Board, said they had planned for about 1,300 lunches by the time everything was totaled.
“We had about 400 meals go out with the Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity Meals on Wheels, there are more than 800 diners at the convention hall, and last year we had more than 160 takeouts,” Beer said. “We get a lot of help — especially from Chef Guy Higa of the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club.”
At the same time the convention hall was buzzing with activity, The Salvation Army Hanapepe Corps was hosting a Community Thanksgiving Luncheon for people on the Westside, Beer saying they were scheduled to serve at least 350 meals there.
Beer said Tuesday, while ladies from The Salvation Army shredded turkey and prepared food in the certified kitchen at the Lihu‘e Corps, members of the Kaua‘i High School Key Club decorated the tables set up by the U Turn for Christ participants, while advisory-board members cut pumpkin squares for the luncheon.
Among the servers, members of the Kapa‘a High School Interact Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a, made their way through the aisles with lunch servings.
“They are really good,” Uohara said. “They had the first rows done real fast.”
The Interact members were poised, as were the corps of volunteers at the serving line, as Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. arrived to carve the turkey marking the start of lunch.
Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season of giving for The Salvation Army, the greeting line flanked by the familiar red kettle that has become an icon of the holiday season.
Envoy Larry Groenleer of The Salvation Army, Lihu‘e Corps, said on O‘ahu the red kettles started appearing two weeks before Thanksgiving because officials were unsure how the economic crunch would impact holiday collections.
“But the red kettle is tradition,” Groenleer said. “Whether we make goal or not, red kettles and bell-ringers is part of tradition and always appears right after Thanksgiving.”
In addition to the red kettle, The Salvation Army also hosts its Toys for Tots campaign alongside its Angel Tree program.
For more information, or to volunteer to be a bell-ringer at one of the red kettles, usually located at stores throughout the island, call 245-2571 or 335-5441.
People can visit www.salvationarmyhawaii.org for more information.
Moksha McClure served as the mistress of ceremonies for the Lihu‘e luncheon, with entertainment provided by Rose and Ming, the Country Line Dance Team, Ladies of Lei Mokihana Na Kupuna ‘O Kaua‘i and Filipino Dance Troupe, the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center Senior ‘Ukulele Group under direction of Herman Paleka and Marilyn Matsumoto, Haunani Kau‘i, Linda Tani and Tamatea Nui O Kaua‘i, Larry and ‘Ilima Rivera and the Hau‘oli Dancers.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
