LIHU‘E — Yvonne Johnson, a volunteer with the All Angels’ Loaves and Fishes ministry from St. Michael and All Angels Church, said the cars were lined up early Wednesday at the Vidinha Stadium parking lot.
“They were waiting for us,” Johnson said. “Normally, we pack up at the church around 8 a.m. and try to set up before 9 a.m. There are always a lot of cars, waiting.”
The All Angels’ Loaves and Fishes ministry meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month at Vidinha Stadium to distribute groceries and produce to families with food insecurities.
“A lot of the families are from people waiting to be called back to work at the hotels,” said Loretta Ebnet, the All Angels’ Loaves and Fishes coordinator. “We have a lot of elderly folks, and there are many that are multi-generational, or families moving together within the same roof.”
The bi-monthly distribution by St. Michael and All Angels Church demonstrates the need for food that exists within the community with the cessation of the mass food distributions that accompanied the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic by various other groups.
“When we held the distributions at the church, there were a lot of the houseless population,” Johnson said. “We had to shut down, and following change in the church leadership, thank heaven Loretta said she wanted to do this pantry program, again. But we had to move to the stadium parking lot, and on the day before Christmas, we did our first distribution here.”
The All Angels’ Loaves and Fishes ministry offers families food, a lot of it donated to the church, in a drive-through pick-up format from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on the first and third Wednesday.
“Or, until we run out of food,” Johnson said. ‘Today, we packed enough to take care of 70 to 80 families, but it’s only been 30 minutes since we opened, and we’re already down to the last bags of groceries and eggs. The produce that was donated went out, early.”
As the last bag of groceries was loaded into a family’s car, a couple of bicyclists approached the tent.
“Sorry,” Ebnet said. “But, if you want to follow us back to the church, located at the Hardy Street roundabout, we have some things up there.”
Donations of nonperishable food, fresh produce, and especially brown paper bags are always welcomed, and for those interested in serving on the All Angels’ Loaves and Fishes ministry, contact Ebnet at 977-8568.
