LIHU‘E — Fifty percent off clothing is one of the draws for Salvation Army Week, celebrated May 15 to May 21 on Kaua‘i, The Salvation Army spokesman said. Captain Mitham Clement of The Salvation Army Lihue Corps said the discount
LIHU‘E — Fifty percent off clothing is one of the draws for Salvation Army Week, celebrated May 15 to May 21 on Kaua‘i, The Salvation Army spokesman said.
Captain Mitham Clement of The Salvation Army Lihue Corps said the discount applies to purchases made at both the Lihu‘e and Hanapepe thrift shops on clothing items during Salvation Army Week.
“It’s the least we can do to give back to the island,” Clement said.
Additionally, the week will be highlighted by the grand-opening celebration for the Kokua Soup Kitchen at the Hanapepe Corps on May 15.
Clement said that invitations to dignitaries will be in the mail shortly for the kitchen that opened several weeks ago and serves dinners to hungry people on the Westside.
However, due to confidentiality issues, the grand-opening celebration will take place during the lunch hour, so the kitchen can continue with its weekly dinner service for clients.
Lieutenants Joy Groenleer and Larry Groenleer are in charge of The Salvation Army Hanapepe Corps, and are grateful that they have the services of Chef Ricky Butay, who coincides his days off from duties at Kauai Pasta so he can cook for the kitchen.
Butay is one of The Salvation Army members at the Hanapepe Corps, and grew up there.
“We come to church here, so we always volunteer when we can,” Butay’s uncle Cayetano Butay explained on the opening day of the kitchen.
The Hanapepe Kokua Soup Kitchen joins the program being offered at The Salvation Army Lihu‘e Corps, which serves dinners on Tuesday evenings, and lunches on Thursdays.
During the recent floods, The Salvation Army played a critical role in the relief effort by providing water, hot meals, blankets, clothing, shelter, and other basic assistance to relief workers and victims of the disaster.
The Salvation Army’s only business on Kaua‘i, as it has been for the past 109 years, is still human business, undertaken with joy for the family of humankind, read the mayoral proclamation declaring the week of celebrating the accomplishments of The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army uses sound, innovative, and professional services to serve the people of Kaua‘i with unshakable faith in all, no matter how desperate the situation, viewing all individuals as people with possibilities, the proclamation states.
Last year, many less-fortunate families and individuals on the island were served by The Salvation Army through the physical provisions of food, shelter, household items, clothing, utility assistance as well as spiritual enrichment, states the proclamation.
Nationally, The Salvation Army provides relief during natural disasters, and stepped forward following Hurricane ‘Iniki with emergency assistance when thousands of Kaua‘i residents were provided assistance.
The Salvation Army also cares for thousands of people who have suffered drug abuse and alcohol addiction, abuse, neglect, emotional problems, and personal emergencies, the proclamation states.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
