Volunteers pack food bags at St. James Church

St. James’ in Waimea Has Served More than 20,000 Meals This Year! Here’s How You Can Support Them

St. James’ Episcopal Church has served community meals since 2016. In March of 2020, St. James’ Episcopal Church relaunched their community meal program with new drive up meal delivery to ensure safe hygienic procedures and social distancing were observed. Local farmers have been donating produce, and more recently local Waimea bakers have donated bread and baked treats to go with the boxed meals. Now, seven months later in October of 2020, they have served over 20,000 boxed meals supporting Big Island residents in need, nearly five times to number of meals typically served over this time period. 

Current Community Meal Ministry Serving Schedule

In Waimea at St. James’ Episcopal Church: Every Thursday, 4:30 to 6 pm

In Pa’auilo at Saint Columba Church: Every Tuesday, 4:30 to 5:30 pm

Volunteers and Donations needed!

Volunteers work in three hour shifts on Tuesdays and Thursdays onsite at St. James’ in Waimea and Saint Columba’s in Pa’auilo preparing and packaging food. Volunteers are also needed to help transport food boxes from Saint James’ to Saint Columba’s on Tuesday afternoon. 

St. James’ works with their sister church Annunciation Catholic Church (located next door in Waimea) to offer food pantry grocery items. The food pantry is open on Tuesdays from 9 am to 11 am, and serves over 200 families a month. Donations can be made at either church. The most needed food pantry items are canned goods, dry starches (pasta, rice) and Cheerios cereal. 

For more information or questions please contact the Community Meal Ministry Coordinator Sue Dela Cruz by email at [email protected] or phone (808) 885-4923 9 am to 2 pm Mondays and Wednesdays and 9 am to 7 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For more information on the Annunciation Catholic Church Food Pantry,  call  Annunciation at (808) 887-1220 or contact them via email

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