“Leave no one behind.” The Yuima no kai volunteer group is operating a food drive in Makishi Park, and the number of visitors in need is growing, with 272 people coming in December

“Leave no one behind.” The Yuima no kai volunteer group is operating a food drive in Makishi Park, and the number of visitors in need is growing, with 272 people coming in December

A man accepts food from a Yuimaru no Kai volunteer. January 8, at Makishi Park in Makishi, Naha


January 12, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Naoki Isa

In order to support those who have fallen on hard times due to the coronavirus pandemic, the volunteer organization “Yuimaru no Kai” has been running a food drive twice per week at Makishi Park in Naha. Group representative Naomi Kadekaru, 65, said, “Leave no one behind. We want everyone, both young and old, to take what they need.”

The Yuimaru no Kai was formed in June of 2020, setting up donation boxes for food and money in the plaza in front of Cargoes in Asato, Naha, where people could come and make donations at their leisure. They finished collecting donations in September, and started distributing food in October in Makishi Park. The food was distributed to people including those with children in need.

In October, 125 people visited the park to accept food, and the number continued to climb from there, with 209 people visiting in November, and 272 people visiting in December. The age of the visitors ranged from 40-90. Visitors came not only from Makishi and Asato, but also Akebono and Kokuba.
Food was purchased from the Okinawa Community Chest’s “Red feather coronavirus assistance program,” and there were also donations from local businesses and the catholic church. Masks and other disease prevention materials were provided by the Okinawa Prefecture Amusement Industry Cooperative’s Okiyukyu pp grant.

Naomi Kadekaru (back row, third from the right) and Yuimaru no Kai members

Under a cold sky on January 8, 36 people gathered to accept food. One was a 70-year-old woman who used to work a register 5 days a week at a food store in Kokusai-dori, her hours were cut back to only 2 days per week. “Many of the people who come for food are elderly who live alone. This has become a place for us to chat and socialize,” she said smiling. A 62-year-old man said, “I had a job as a construction worker, but I got sick and left my job. I work as a day laborer but it doesn’t pay much, and the food distribution is very helpful.”

Kadekaru explained, “As long as we have funding, we want to continue. Our goal is to distribute food to 500 people per month. It would also be great for the young people to continue to volunteer.”

Food distribution takes place generally on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30-10:30 a.m., and if they have to cancel due to weather, they distribute on Saturday. Food donations (excluding expired food and alcohol) are still welcome. For inquiries, please contact Naomi Kadekaru at 090 (3793) 7906.

(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

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