HONOLULU — While the coronavirus pandemic has once again forced the Salvation Army to modify its annual sit-down Thanksgiving gathering, it's not stopping the nonprofit organization from continuing its outreach to the community.

What You Need To Know

  • The Salvation Army Hawaii, with the help of their corporate and other business and nonprofit partners, will give out thousands of grab-and-go Thanksgiving meals for those in need across the islands this week

  • The Salvation Army will also deliver thousands of Thanksgiving meals for seniors, veterans, shut-ins, and families in need. Those individuals have already been identified 

  • The coronavirus pandemic upended the Salvation Army's annual sit-down Thanksgiving meal. Instead, the nonprofit is hosting these grab-and-go and delivery Thanksgiving events

  • In addition, Salvation Army officials said from now through Dec. 31, customers at Foodland and Sack N Save stores can make donations through Foodland's "Share a Holiday Feast" program. The contributions will be converted into gift certificates and given to families in need

In place of their usual 2,000 seats, sit-down meal service in Honolulu and other neighboring islands, the Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands will distribute and deliver thousands of grab-and-go Thanksgiving meals to families in need across the islands this Thanksgiving week.

Hawaiian Electric Industries and Mio Pastalogy are among the businesses that have stepped up to help support the Thanksgiving meal drive that starts today in Kaneohe and Lahaina. 

The Salvation Army will also deliver thousands of Thanksgiving meals to seniors, veterans, shut-ins, and homeless individuals across the islands throughout the week. Those individuals and families have been identified.

"Once again, with the generous help of corporate partners, volunteers, advisory boards, staff and Salvation Army officers, we've been able to shift our traditional Thanksgiving observances around the state to reach thousands of those in need in our island communities," said Major Phil Lum, divisional commander for The Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands, in a news release. "We humbly ask the community for their continued support and encourage those in need of a meal to reach out to the Salvation Army Corps in their local community."

In addition to the Thanksgiving delivery and distribution food drive, Salvation Army officials said from now through Dec. 31, customers at Foodland and Sack N Save stores can make donations through Foodland's "Share a Holiday Feast" program. The contributions will be converted into gift certificates and given to families in need. 

Here's a list of the Salvation Army's Thanksgiving grab-and-go outreach events for those in need by date and islands:

Tuesday

Oahu

The Salvation Army will hold a drive-thru food box distribution from 9 a.m. to noon while supplies last at the Salvation Army Kaneohe Corps at 45-175 Waikalua Road in Kaneohe.

Maui

The Salvation Army Lahaina Lighthouse Corps will deliver Thanksgiving Lunches to 300 Kupuna in West Maui. 

Also, from noon to 2 p.m., a grab-n-go distribution will be available for those in need while supplies last.  

Wednesday

Kauai

The Salvation Army Lihue Corps, with the help of Kauai Community College and The Plantation House at Kilohana, will distribute 600 hot Thanksgiving meals via drive-thru and grab-and-go options starting at 10 a.m. at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Center at 4191 Hardy St. in Kauai. 

Also, the Salvation Army Hanapepe Corps and Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa will distribute 450 hot Thanksgiving meals via drive-thru, grab-and-go style from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., while supplies last at 4465 Puolo Road in Hanapepe. There is a limit of five meals per car. 

Maui

The Salvation Army Kahului Corps and the University of Hawaii Maui College will give out 600 Thanksgiving meals at a walk-up and drive-thru distribution event at 11 a.m. at the University of Hawaii Maui College at 310 West Kaahumanu Ave. in Kahului. The distribution site will be in the parking lot off WahinepioAve.

Thursday

Oahu

The Salvation Army Kaneohe Corps will distribute 200 meals from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Kaneohe Corps at 45-175 Waikalua Road in Kaneohe. Additionally, at the same time, the Salvation Army will distribute 300 meals along the Windward Coast and North Shore via a partnership with Project Reach.