Passersby at Guam’s Chamorro Village this past Thanksgiving Day may have thought they were witnessing preparations for a major party or festival. A live band played upbeat music as people brought in trays of delicious food, arranging the food on long rows of serving tables set in a large, brightly decorated room.
The event was the Salvation Army’s traditional Thanksgiving Day turkey dinner. Turkey, ham, potatoes, rice, dressing, pies and other traditional dishes were donated by individuals, businesses, churches and other service organizations from around Guam.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a major sponsor for the dinner, providing a large portion of the food that was served. “These funds come from the donations of our Church members,” explained Brett Child who administers the Church’s humanitarian efforts throughout Micronesia. “We give because we love the Savior, and we love our fellow brothers and sisters in the community.”
The Thanksgiving Day gathering was not just to provide a meal to those who may not otherwise be able to have one, but to celebrate the Salvation Army’s commitment to do God’s work by bringing the resources of the community together to help meet the needs of the community’s most vulnerable, the homeless, and those who simply need a helping hand.
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“Volunteers are the heartbeat of the Salvation Army,” said Major Eric Tumale who organized and directed the event. “This could not happen without the support of the community,” he added, thanking the organizations and volunteers who came forward to make the dinner possible.
To open the festivities, a youth choir from Guam sang a traditional Chamorro song from the room’s balcony, after which Major Tumale offered a prayer of thanks. Dinner was then served cafeteria style by the volunteers as a steady stream of people were served from 11:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M.
In addition to providing food for the dinner, Latter-day Saint volunteers, including senior missionaries and members from the Barrigada Stake, joined others from throughout Guam in serving the food.
Diners enjoyed live music as they ate, and a youth dance team from the community also performed. Hundreds of meals were served to families and individuals.
