Kathy Heindl (right) loads cranberry sauce into a tray assembled by Regan Evans (left) at a drive-through Thanksgiving meal event hosted by the Salvation Army on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kathy Heindl (right) loads cranberry sauce into a tray assembled by Regan Evans (left) at a drive-through Thanksgiving meal event hosted by the Salvation Army on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Thanksgiving on the go

Salvation Army hands out meals in drive-thru event

More than 130 Thanksgiving meals were distributed to the community Thursday as part of a drive-thru event hosted by the Salvation Army Kenai Corps. While snow fell, volunteers ran bags of meals back and forth from the corps’ administration building in Kenai to waiting cars.

Inside, volunteers assembled meals buffet-style: Some ladled gravy over mashed potatoes while others piled on cranberry sauce. The event was made possible by multiple community stakeholders: Alaska Community College sanitized the station throughout; Homer Electric Association peeled potatoes; and the Kenai Rotary Club helped deliver meals, Brandon Kyle, Salvation Army Kenai Peninsula Corps captain, said Monday.

Alyson Evans, who helped assemble and shuttle meals with her family, said that Thursday was her first time volunteering for Thanksgiving but that she was having fun and wants to do it again next year. Evans said her favorite part of volunteering was running meals out to people.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“(It was) very cold,” Evans said, adding that she’d like to volunteer again next year.

Kyle said they also worked to make available more opportunities for young people to get involved. His two young sons handed off meals for part of the day. The corps hosted a Thanksgiving Minecraft Charity stream, where people created a Thanksgiving meal in Minecraft and sent in a picture to be featured on a livestream.

The event, which ran from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed the deployment of a fleet of vehicles that delivered meals upon request to people who are homebound or who did not have a way to get to the event. Kyle said last year’s event was slightly modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but still saw a large turnout of about 145 people. This year, Kyle said they expected around 180 people.

“We’re prepared,” Kyle said Monday.

In all, the Salvation Army Kenai Corps distributed 137 meals on Thanksgiving.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.

Carter Kyle (left), Lincoln Kyle (center) and Brandon Kyle (right) hand off Thanksgiving meals at a drive through event hosted by the Salvation Army on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

More in News

Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough considers seasonal sales tax rate

Borough sales tax would be modified from a flat 3% to a seasonal model of 4% in summer months and 2% in winter months.

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
King salmon fishing on Kasilof to close Thursday

If any king salmon is caught while fishing for other species, they may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Un’a, a female sea otter pup who was admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in June 2025, plays with an enrichment toy at the center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center
SeaLife Center admits 2 seal pups, 1 orphaned otter

The three pups join the Alaska SeaLife Center’s ‘growing’ patient list.

James Wardlow demonstrates flilleting a salmon with an ulu during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge to celebrate all things fish during weeklong event

Fish Week will take place July 16-19.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School board finalizes budget with deep cuts to programming, classrooms

Multiple members of the board said they were frustrated by the state’s failure to fund education.

Former KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School district finance department earns national awards

The two awards are based on comprehensive reviews of the district’s budget and financial reporting.

Children leap forward to grab candy during a Fourth of July parade on South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska, on July 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy Sarah Every)
Celebrating the 4th in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Independence Day parade.

Fire crews respond to the Bruce Fire, July 4, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska Division of Forestry)
Firefighting crews respond to wildfire outside Soldotna

The 8-acre fire and two “spot fires” of less than one acre each are located near Mile 102 and 103 of the Sterling Highway.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in