HONOLULU (KHON2) — Thanksgiving came early for many, following Ruby Tuesday Hawaiʻi’s 11th annual Giving Thanks event.
Ruby Tuesday crews banded together on Thursday, May 29, to cook and cut up 800 pounds of turkey at their two Hawaiʻi locations.
Marcus Mariota’s Motiv8 Foundation was a sponsor for this event for the 7th year in a row.
“What my team does, much more than what I do for it, is tremendous,” said Rick Nakashima, restaurant partner. “Cooking 800lbs, cutting 800lbs of turkey, all the stuffing, mash, gravy, corn, getting it all prepared. It’s a huge task.”
All the fixings were distributed to local charities and foundations, including IHS, River of Life, Surfing the Nations, Waianae Boat Harbor and the Veterans Center.
“It’s huge, I really really am proud. I think the one thing I brag about most because I always tell people I think we’re the most charitable corporation of our size in the hospitality industry. And if we’re not then that’s awesome. I hope someone is doing more than us it’s not a competition,” Nakashima added.
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One thousand pounds of dog and cat food were also distributed to the Hawaii Humane Society and the SPCA on Wednesday, May 28.