KAILUA-KONA — Thanksgiving is a time for family and feast. For 10 years, the Salvation Army and Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill have provided both for members of the community who might otherwise go hungry or be alone.
Volunteers started cooking at 5 a.m., and by 9 a.m., approximately 600 to-go boxes were filled with turkey and all the trimmings, loaded into vehicles and on their way to elderly housing and individuals unable to get to the restaurant for dinner.
This is the third year Nova Chong has made deliveries to Hulalalai Elderly Housing. Her SUV was packed with 50 dinners and drinks. For her it’s an opportunity to give back to the community.
“Not everybody has a place to go for Thanksgiving,” Chong said. “When I get old, I want someone to deliver to me.”
Goldie Aickin added that in her 10 years delivering meals, the best part is bringing a little joy to kupuna who are lonely and have no family.
“We brighten their day, even if it’s for a moment. And that makes our life happier,” Aickin said.
Once the vehicles were loaded and on their way, a small crowd started to gather in the parking lot, waiting for the doors to open.
Salvation Army Lt. Raghel Santiago gathered volunteers and guest to hold hands and offered a prayer of thanks for the day.
The doors opened and a jovial crowd lined up to be served a traditional meal.
Santiago noted an increased need to feed the hungry. She and her husband have been serving dinners at the pier every Thursday night for more than a year now. Seeing people eating out of garbage cans moved them so deeply that they decided to start the pier ministry. What started with 30 home-made dinners, paid for out of their meager salary, has grown to more than 200 meals a week with a benefactor, Joe Schneckenburger, financing the cost of food.
Schneckenburger, a Colorado resident who visits Kailua-Kona several times a year, gestured around the crowded dining room at Jackie Rey’s. “Just because it’s paradise doesn’t mean there isn’t a need,” he said.
“This year it feels like family getting together,” commented Santiago, seeing the same faces she does every Thursday.
Jackie Rey’s has been partnering with the Salvation Army for the past 10 years, opening their doors to the community and more than 100 volunteers who cook, serve and deliver the meals, as well as clean up afterward.
Earlier in the week it looked like they might be short on food, but the word got out on the coconut wireless and the community stepped up — donations came in to cover the shortfall.
Last year was a record year with more than 1,100 dinners served.
“It’s important to show compassion,” said Jackie Rey’s manager Anna Schmidt.
Looking around, she commented that there is a core group of amazing volunteers who have been helping out since the beginning. “For them it has become a tradition, to be a part of the community,” she said.
And the reward? Schmidt pointed around the room at the smiling faces of those sharing a meal and fellowship and said
“We lift their spirits, even if it’s just for the day,” Schmidt said. “This is priceless.”
With all of the good food, the Salvation Army Band playing holiday music and The Great Barusky delighting keiki with balloon animals and magic tricks, smiles became contagious.
Standing in line to get his food, Vince was a happy man. “This is a fantastic event supporting the whole community. I might even find a few friends here,” he said. “I am thankful for my life and getting up this morning,” he added.
Once the food was served and doors closed at Jackie Rey’s, Andrew Fisher set up his Cool Runnings food truck at Hale Halawai and proceeded to pull out pan after pan of delicious food for his Community Meal.
Asked why he decided to feed the hungry on Thanksgiving he replied, “Because I can. And it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside.”