Chris Murphy @ St James Episcopal Church Dinner

In the beginning:

On Dec. 15, 2016, a handful of volunteers from St. James’ Church had a dream of feeding our community, those who are experiencing hunger both in body and in spirit.

After serving 80 meals in the pavilion on St. James’ Circle, a partnership with Big Island Giving Tree expanded the ministry to include deliveries to kūpuna (seniors) in both elderly housing complexes in our area and homeless persons at our nearby beaches. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, our Waimea community meal team was preparing an average of 350 meals every Thursday, delivering 90 to 120 hot, nutritious main courses, salads and desserts, and serving 200-plus people (including keiki, or children) in the Savanack Pavilion, with live music and plenty of aloha.