LIHU‘E — Thanksgiving lunch was, for the second consecutive year, served in a drive-thru format in consideration of COVID-19 and the flu season on Wednesday.
The Salvation Army, sharing between the Lihu‘e and Hanapepe Corps, served up more than 1,000 plates at the annual community Thanksgiving. The effort received lots of help from the community, who prepared, plated and delivered the plates celebrating thanks for everyone.
Approximately 450 meals were distributed through The Salvation Army Hanapepe Corps, where cars lined along the fence line to Hanapepe Stadium. The meals that were limited to a maximum of five per car were made possible through the help of the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort &Spa, the West Kaua‘i Lions Club, the KANAKA Public Charter School, the Episcopal Church on West Kaua‘i, and The Salvation Army’s Kokua Soup Kitchen ‘ohana.
More than 600 meals were distributed through the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall drive-thru route, with plans developed following emergency food distributions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their souces of support came from the Marriott Vacation Club, Kaua‘i Community College culinary arts department, Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering, Hukilau Lanai, The Club at Kukui‘ula, Koa Kea Hotel, Lihu‘e Lions Club, and Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i. The effort was also supplemented by The Salvation Army Lihu‘e Corps members and its advisory board members.
Another round of drive-thru, walk-up Thanksgiving lunch serves up on Thursday. It is presented by the Kapa‘a Interfaith Association at the All Saints Episcopal Church and School gym starting with the interfaith service at the church, which begins at 10:30 a.m.
Food service for drive-thru and walk-ups, as well as home deliveries to homebound residents, are scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
Participating churches in the Kapa‘a Interfaith Association — All Saints Episcopal Church, St. Catherine Church, Kapa‘a Hongwanji Mission, Kapa‘a Seventh Day Adventist Church and Kapa‘a United Church of Christ — have been doing the Thanksgiving Day lunch for more than 20 years. They were recently recognized by the Interfaith Alliance for their good work.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
