The Salvation Army to Resume Thanksgiving Meal at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall on Nov. 24
Written. by: David Sayre
HONOLULU [Oct. 28, 2022] – The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division is set to resume their annual free Thanksgiving Meal service for approximately 2,000 guests at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall on Thanksgiving Day. It will be the 50th anniversary of the lunchtime event. The Thanksgiving event is presented by “Love Beyond Partners” Dominos Hawaii and KSSK Hawaii. Additional support provided by the following: “Golden Bell Partner” Nareit Hawaii; “Holiday Hope Partners” American Floors & Home, Hawaiian Electric Industries and Road Builders Corporation; and “Bringing Joy Partners” Bank of Hawaii, Kaiser Permanente, and UHA Health Insurance.
“We’re pleased to announce, with the generous support of Mayor Blangiardi and the City & County of Honolulu, the resumption of our annual Thanksgiving Meal at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall on Thanksgiving Day,” said Major Phil Lum, Divisional Commander, The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands. “The free meal is open to everyone and no tickets are required. It’s a traditional Thanksgiving meal with turkey, stuffing, gravy, rice, salad, pineapple and a slice of pumpkin pie. It’s really a joyous day for individuals and families to gather and give thanks.”
Approximately 600 volunteer positions will be available to be filled starting Monday, Nov. 1, at noon. Volunteers will be needed for everything from greeting and hosting guests to preparing and serving the hot turkey meals. In addition, prior to the event, many volunteers spend time making favors, coordinating donations, picking up food and flowers. Details will be available on ThanksgivingHawaii.org.
The public also can assist with pie donations at restaurant bakeries on Oahu. Customers at both Anna Miller’s Pearlridge and Zippy’s locations on Oahu can purchase a pumpkin pie that will be served at the annual Blaisdell Thanksgiving Meal. Both programs run through Nov. 20. See restaurants for info.
Monetary donations to support The Salvation Army’s feeding efforts during the holidays and year round
may be made online at ThanksgivingHawaii.org. Additionally, from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, customers at all Foodland and Sack N Save stores in Hawaii will be able to make donations at checkout through Foodland’s “Share a Holiday Feast” program to help those less fortunate in Hawaii. Customers may donate cash, change or use Maika’i points to help. Those donations will be turned into Foodland gift certificates and distributed by The Salvation Army to families in need on each island where the donations were received.
Additional statewide Thanksgiving meals and outreach events are planned and will be shared in the coming days. Doors for the Blaisdell event open at 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day with meal service running from noon to 1 p.m. Current CDC, state, and county guidelines will be followed. For more information, visit ThanksgivingHawaii.org.
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About The Salvation Army – Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division
The Salvation Army – Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division covers the state of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands including Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands and The Federated States of Micronesia. The Division offers a wide variety of programs throughout the islands including: adult day health services; affordable senior housing; at-risk youth services and housing; camp & conference center; family stores; food distribution and feeding programs; homeless services; The Kroc Center – Hawaii’s largest community center; preschools & day care services; social services – emergency assistance; substance abuse treatment; and work therapy & rehabilitation services. For more information, call 808-988-2136, visit hawaii.salvationarmy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn.