19th annual Day of Thanksgiving kicks off Saturday

WAIPOULI — ‘Ohana Christian Fellowship hosts its 19th annual Day of Thanksgiving outreach today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Waipouli Town Center.

The hot Thanksgiving meal is being provided in a drive-thru format.

Organizers are planning on giving away up to 500 meals, doubling the number of meals they gave out last year.

Pastor Gregg Poole hopes the event can be a bright spot for people as the holidays approach.

“It’s an opportunity to share and remind the community of how much we have to be thankful for even in these difficult times,” Poole said.

The meat for the meal was provided by Chicken in a Barrel in Kapa‘a.

In addition to the meal distribution, the event will feature a variety of services for low-income and houseless individuals and families, including basic medical services, rent and utility assistance, a portable shower, food bank and care-bag giveaways, as well as prayer services.

This year, the event is partially staffed by volunteers from the nonprofit Surfing the Nations, an organization based out of O‘ahu that facilitates volunteer opportunities and internships. On Friday, those volunteers helped prepare for the event.

Food overflowed the fellowship’s hallway near the shopping center as the volunteer group filled about 200 bags of food to be given away today. The food is primary provided by the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i branch. ‘Ohana Christian Fellowship also provided funding to purchase additional food for the giveaway.

For Poole, the holiday is an opportunity for reflection and community outreach.

“It’s been a couple of hard years for all of us,” Poole said. “(Holidays can) remind the community that there’s something bigger. We’re not alone in all of this. We are in a community that cares.”

‘Ohana Christian Fellowship has been providing local and international ministries services to the public since 1989. Located at 4531 Pouli Street in Waipouli, the church holds weekly services at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sundays.

For more information about Day of Thanksgiving, contact Tonya Lagmay at 808-634-9317 or email secretary@ocf.church.

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Laurel Smith, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0424 or lsmith@thegardenisland.com.
Source: The Garden Island