The Salvation Army will be modifying its annual Thanksgiving week holiday meals throughout Hawaii because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Salvation Army, Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division, will shift from traditionally served meals to individual meal outreach and drive-through events to reach thousands throughout the state.
For those in need of some assistance to prepare a home-cooked meal, the nonprofit in Hilo will offer a Thanksgiving-themed food box to be distributed to all who RSVP by Thursday. In Kailua-Kona, the Salvation Army Kona Corps is distributing the boxes Saturday to 100 families in need, all of whom have already been identified and boxes reserved.
“The food box will include everything necessary to make turkey, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and other classic Thanksgiving foods,” said Lt. Jacob Bratton with the Salvation Army. “Everything will be uncooked so people can make the meal themselves on Thanksgiving.”
The Salvation Army in Kona once again is partnering with Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill to provide Thanksgiving dinner to kupuna and those in need. They will be delivering 350 meals to kupuna in West Hawaii along with a grab and go at the Kona restaurant from 10 a.m. to noon.
“We want people to know we care,” said Salvation Army Kona Corps Pastor Lt. Raghel Santiago. “It’s going to be so different this year because we are so used to having that fellowship where people can sit down, but since they can’t do it, it will be a grab and go.”
Jackie Rey’s owner Paul Streiter said his crew is planning on preparing 700 meals for delivery and grab and go. He said he will have volunteers in the parking lot ensuring mask wearing and social distancing guidelines are being followed.
“We have 70 turkeys being cooked in the community for Thanksgiving,” he said, adding the dinners include mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, corn and green beans, cranberry relish and pumpkin pie.
Streiter said they have received donations which will go towards costs, but anything left over will be donated to the Salvation Army.
Hilo’s Salvation Army is expecting to serve about 500 families. Anyone interested in receiving a box must call 935-1277 by this Thursday.
Because of the pandemic, there will not be any volunteers needed to put the boxes together throughout the next few days.
Thursday also will be the last day to register a child or senior for the 2020 Angel Tree at Hilo’s Salvation Army.
The Angel Tree program runs every holiday season to provide Christmas gifts for keiki and kupuna and support to families in need throughout the year.
Parents and guardians wanting to sign children up for the program are required to visit the Salvation Army in person from 1-4 p.m. Thursday.
Parents and guardians must bring a picture ID, birth certificates or medical cards with a child’s date of birth and some proof of income, such as a pay stub, unemployment or supplemental security income.
Children must be 12 and younger, and seniors must be 65 and older.
The Salvation Army is pairing with Walmart for the Angel Tree gifts, so anyone interested in donating can shop at Walmart and put the gifts in their collection area.
People also can shop online and call 935-1277 to reserve a time to drop off gifts at the Salvation Army in Hilo.
Throughout Thanksgiving week, the Salvation Army in Kona will distribute food boxes, similar to Hilo, to 100 families that have already been identified.
The Salvation Army in Honokaa will deliver 200-300 meals to the senior centers in Paauilo and Honokaa as well as local hotels and small housing developments in Honokaa on Thanksgiving morning.
Hawaii Tribune-Herald Photographer Kelsey Walling contributed to this report.