LIHU‘E — It takes many hands to care for people, and evidence of that was obvious Tuesday afternoon as members of The Salvation Army Ladies Ministries and numerous other community volunteers turned out to start shredding turkeys in preparation for
LIHU‘E — It takes many hands to care for people, and evidence of that was obvious Tuesday afternoon as members of The Salvation Army Ladies Ministries and numerous other community volunteers turned out to start shredding turkeys in preparation for the 39th Annual Community Thanksgiving Luncheon today at both Lihu‘e and Hanapepe.
Dore Jean Mason, one of the coordinators for the annual extravaganza, noted, “I don’t know where they (the volunteers) come from, but I’m grateful. I just don’t like doing that (shredding turkeys).”
Volunteers came from as far away as Hanalei as they joined TSA Ladies Ministries members to help prepare food for today’s event that will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at both the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e, and the Salvation Army Hanapepe Corps on Puolo Road.
One of the volunteers chirped in, “The Lihu‘e meal is for people from ‘Oma‘o to Ha‘ena, and the Hanapepe one takes care of people living from Lawa‘i to Kekaha.”
Mason noted that it takes a lot of effort and contributions to make this annual event a success, and at the head of the list are the contributors of the 53 turkeys that were roasted by the culinary departments of the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club and the Princeville Resort.
In fact, one of the kitchen volunteers noted the absence of Capt. Mitham Clement, who was picking up a load of turkeys from Princeville.
Mason said that members of The Salvation Army Advisory Board provided some of the birds, along with the Hanalei Gourmet, Lihue Barbecue Inn, and The Gas Company. But, Mason is especially grateful to Kaua‘i Vacation Rentals personnel, who made up the difference.
Staff at the Princeville Hotel and Radisson Kauai Beach Resort shared the gravy and stuffing preparation, and the Kaua‘i Community College culinary arts department students prepared pumpkin squares for dessert.
Hanapepe’s meals were prepared by the culinary staff at the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa in Po‘ipu, Mason noted.
When the doors open to the convention hall this morning, about 350 meals will already have been distributed, as the Kauai Economic Opportunity Meals on Wheels program staffers arrived early Wednesday morning to pick up meals for their home-service clients.
Lihu‘e Salvation Army leaders plan to serve about 1,100 meals, while Hanapepe usually handles about 300 meals, Mason pointed out.
Some of the volunteers who will be on hand to serve up the meals include members of the Zonta Club of Kauai, the Interact Club from Kapa‘a High School, and Kauai Nursery & Landscaping, whose owners loaned plants for convention hall decorations.
Ellie Lloyd, formerly with the county Office of Elderly Affairs (now Agency on Elderly Affairs) noted that she was up early Tuesday morning with the captain and the community from the Kauai Community Correctional Center, who came out this year to help set up, and will also help clean up after the luncheon.
During the luncheon, diners will enjoy entertainment by Larry Rivera, the Lihu‘e Seniors ‘Ukulele Group, the ladies of Lei Mokihana Na Kupuna O Kaua‘i, and Limited Edition, who Mason said continue to provide entertainment while the cleanup takes place.
Sponsors include the County of Kaua‘i, Eddie Sarita and the staff of the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall, the Coca Cola Bottling Company, the Kauai United Way, Meadow Gold, M. Miura Store, the Princeville Corporation, Cost-U- Less, and Kojima Store.
Mason said that these are just some of the contributors who came to the tip of her tongue, but knows that there are many more hands and hearts from businesses and individuals that contribute.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
