LIHU‘E — Dickie Chang, volunteering for the first time at a food distribution Thursday, lamented how it was sad that people had to take off from work to get food for their families — especially now with the holidays, including Thanksgiving, right around the corner.
Chang was one of more than 50 volunteers who came together to distribute nearly 700 frozen turkeys to families who had earlier registered on the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank social-media pages.
Groups represented included the same ones that helped KIFB with its earlier distributions to employees of Kaua‘i’s resort, community food distributions and others.
“You see the metallic name tags for the KIFB staff?” said Janice Bond, president of the East Kaua‘i Lions Club. “I paid for them so people would know who they are. In addition to today, The Salvation Army will be doing drive-thru meals for Thanksgiving.”
Joining the East Kaua‘i Lions Club, other groups included the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i led by its Spirit Awardee Regina Carvalho, who brought along her husband, former mayor and County Councilmember-elect Bernard Carvalho Jr. to help with traffic control through the four major distribution points where the turkeys and accompanying fixings were positioned. Robin Savage Thompson of the Zonta Club of Hanalei made the trek across the bridge to join the group.
The Kaua‘i Board of Realtors, the Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber of Commerce, the Kaua‘i football officials, including former football players, from the Kaua‘i Officials Association, and more, including the fit ladies like Stacy Ricciardi and Lisa Ledesma, and others helped with the distribution.
“I didn’t know what to wear,” said Morgan Lopez, a volunteer who worked the earlier Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i Branch distribution in Kapa‘a. “I only had a few minutes, and had too many shirts to choose from — the Lions Club, Zonta, Filipino Chamber.”
Cyndi Ayonon of the KIFB board said it’s amazing what can be done with volunteer help.
“We couldn’t do this without the volunteers,” said Kelvin Moniz, KIFB executive director. “These are the same volunteers that have helped with all of the other big distributions in the community.”
The KIFB is preparing to help with the Kapa‘a Interfaith Association annual Thanksgiving Day meal that will feature home deliveries from Lihu‘e to Anahola for home-bound people, and a drive-thru meal pickup at the All Saints Episcopal Church gym.
Moniz said they will be using volunteers to help send out a little food with the primary Thanksgiving meal prepared by Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
