LIHU‘E — The arrival of two picnic tables was welcomed by Envoy Larry Groenleer of the Salvation Army, Lihu‘e Corps, Tuesday. “It looks like we’re going to have a busy month, so we can always use the extra seating area,”
LIHU‘E — The arrival of two picnic tables was welcomed by Envoy Larry Groenleer of the Salvation Army, Lihu‘e Corps, Tuesday.
“It looks like we’re going to have a busy month, so we can always use the extra seating area,” he said.
The two picnic tables join three tables that are already set up for clients of the Kokua Soup Kitchen program at the Lihu‘e Corps, and were provided through a collaborative effort of the Mayor’s Office, the Anti-Drug Office, and the county’s Parks and Recreation Department.
“People use them,” Groenleer said. “To date, in September, we’ve already served up 197 meals this early in the month. If the trend continues, we’ll have another big month.”
Groenleer said the Kokua Soup Kitchen has served 4,405 meals since May.
Of those meals, that number skyrocketed to 1,427 meals in June, the first month school was out for the summer.
July saw a dramatic drop to 557 meals and that number fell even more in August to 371 meals before jumping to 197 just a week into September, Groenleer said.
The Kokua Soup Kitchen programs offers hot meals three times a week in Lihu‘e and Hanapepe for hungry people.
Hot meals are served at the Lihu‘e Corps on Tuesday starting at 5 p.m., Thursday and at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
Hanapepe Corps opens its doors at 5 p.m., Monday; and at 11 a.m., Wednesday and Friday.
The Kokua Soup Kitchen program reaches out to disadvantaged families and other people who have limited food resources, states a flier from the Salvation Army.
Groenleer also announced Nathan Apuna as the volunteer kitchen manager at the Lihu‘e Corps effective Sept. 1, replacing former Lihu‘e kitchen manager Mary McFarland, who earlier this year lost her battle with cancer.
“I’ve been working every day since the appointment,” Apuna said, pausing from his task of offering lunch to the crew from the Parks and Recreation Department that delivered the tables. “I try to get all the food ready for the volunteers the day before the meal. That way, they don’t have to work that hard. But that means I’m working every day.”
Anyone in need is welcome to have a meal at either location.
But feeding the less fortunate requires support from those who are able to lend a hand. Contributions of cash or in-kind are welcome to help maintain the Kokua Soup Kitchens.
These contributions can include money, food supplies, canned foods, paper and plastic products, cleaning supplies and voluntary help.
For more information, call the Lihu‘e Corps at 245-2571, or Hanapepe Corps at 335-5441.
