The joy of giving

KAPAA — “This is joy,” said Rev. Ryan D. Newman of the All Saints’ Church and Preschool. “This is not work.”

Newman was one of six ministers officiating the annual Kapaa Interfaith Association Thanksgiving Community Worship at the All Saints’ Church.

During the worship, each of the ministers, including Pastor Douglass Naa, Rev. Anthony Rapozo, Rev. Rex Pimentel Rilveria, Rev. Kazunori Takahashi, and Rev. Jeannie Thompson, offered a short reflection on gratitude and the themes of Thanksgiving.

“This is one of the few days when the homebound people don’t have food,” said Diane Sato of the Kapaa Interfaith Association Planning Committee. “We worked with the Kauai Economic Opportunity (Meals on Wheels) and have more than 320 meals to homebound people from Anahola through the Lihue and Puhi areas.”

This was accomplished through a network of drivers and teams who were instructed to not just deliver the meals, but spend some time visiting with the clients of the Thanksgiving meal catered by Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering.

“This is the first year we’re driving,” said Tracy Bauman who teamed with husband Steve for a delivery run. “Our kids are all in college so we don’t need to be here. We’re driving.”

In addition to the home deliveries, the Kapaa Interfaith Association hosted sit-down dining at the All Saints’ Gym.

The meal which follows the community worship is made possible through the support of the Kapaa High School Interact Club, the Kauai Coffee Company, the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering, the Kapaa Ice Company, the KONG Radio Group, The Sloggett Fund, Tuesday nights’ men’s basketball club, the Rotary Club of Kapaa, and the Lihue Hongwanji Preschool as well as the members, children, and youth of the “east-side” congregations.