CNH CKI's The Sunburst Volume 55, Issue 3 Volume 52, Issue #3 | Page 7

Preparing Meals for the Holidays Taylor Escalona UH Hilo Good Food, Great Company: Feed the Hungry “Oprah Winfrey once said, “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” As the Holiday season is quickly approaching, we as Circle K members must remember and live these wise words of Oprah Winfrey. On November 12, 2012, the members of Circle K at the University of Hawaii at Hilo partnered with the Hilo High School Key Club to “Feed the Hungry.” The day started off with preparing all of the food and dessert for the less fortunate. The main dish we prepared was baked garlic chicken and potatoes. Throughout the day, our members were busy chopping numerous pounds of garlic and potatoes, separating the chicken into two pieces, removing the skin from the chicken, and preparing the rice, corn and paper goods. In addition to the main dish, Circle K also baked and decorated chocolate cupcakes. Although there was a lot that went into the prep work, it was definitely worth it in the end. We then transported the food to Clem Akina Park, where we served the less fortunate. In total, there were about 40 people that came to enjoy the delicious, homey food and warm company of our Circle K members. For some of our members, this was the first time they experienced something so rewarding and touching. As the less fortunate walked through the line to get their plate of food, we could see how appreciative they were to have food to eat and company to enjoy. The garlic chicken and cupcakes were enjoyed by all and they were delighted to hear they would be able to have seconds. In honor of Veteran’s Day, Circle K at UH Hilo honored Veterans by delivering plates to Veterans dealing with PTSD. All of the Circle K members left that night with heavy hearts, as we visually saw what some people have to go through on a daily basis. Serving the less fortunate helped us realize how much we have to be thankful for each and every day of our lives. This project has had a tremendous impact on our members in many ways and it is definitely something we look forward to doing again. 07