Salvation Army serves 700 meals

Dozens of volunteers gathered yesterday morning at the Garapan Central Park to prepare and serve 700 meals for the Salvation Army’s Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

Volunteers gathered as early as 5am that morning to prepare the meals, and had to start a little earlier than their original opening time of 11am due to the waiting crowd.

The Salvation Army was able to serve an estimated 400 meals in the first hour alone.

There was no lack of entertainment either, with volunteers performing songs, blowing balloons, face painting, and playing games with the families and children who came out.

Saipan Interact clubs were one of the groups that volunteered that day, and some of them shared their takeaways from the event.

“Today it was quite fun. It feels really good to help others. That’s what it’s all about you know service above self,” said Southern High School’s Patricia Borja.

Saipan International School’s Wendy Son said this was her first time to be involved in an event like this. “It was actually really fun—the opportunity we had to sing and make balloons and give it to kids. …It’s way better than I had originally expected.”

Salvation Army pastor Wayne Gillespie said the Thanksgiving meals giveaway is an annual event for the group and many people actually show up.

“Many of them came early so we adapted to that and started serving. The heroes are not all here on site. The real heroes are up there on [Capital Hill] preparing the food. We have lots and lots of volunteers up on [Capital Hill and] they did 700 meals today,” he said.

Along with ordering some turkey from Herman’s Modern Bakery—enough for 700 meals—the volunteers also cooked the rice and vegetables, and had the food trayed for serving, he added.

While a group was onsite serving the food, the other group prepared the food, and they were able to see every seat at the Garapan Central Park occupied, he said.

He shared that there were several people who hadn’t known that there were still a number of homeless people on Saipan

“We have at least 20 in the Garapan area alone who work with us and we feed them three times a week. We even provide a church service for them on Sundays, so we’re taking care of the homeless,” he said.

Gillespie said if there are still meals at the end of the event yesterday (2pm), they will drop them off in places where they know the homeless stay.

Gillespie is also excited about the start of the Red Kettle season, when the Salvation Army collects donations that are dropped into the Salvation Army’s signature red kettles, hence the name. The kettles are accompanied by bell ringers.

The first red kettle will be out today at the Docomo Pacific office, Gillespie said, followed by ones at Joeten Susupe and Joeten Superstore.

For those who want to do their giving virtually, donors may donate via the Salvation Army’s virtual kettle.

“The exciting thing is that we’ve got a donor who’s agreed to match up to $10,000 whatever comes into a virtual kettle,” Gillespie said. “So we’re encouraging everyone to go to that virtual site. Every dollar that you donate will be doubled. It’s very quick and easy and you’ll be done in about an estimated two minutes, depending on your internet connection.”

All kettles will remain up until Dec. 23.

To donate to the virtual red kettle go to: https://fundraise.salvationarmyhawaii.org/fundraiser/5097032.