SAIPAN – For more than a month, the kitchen at Yewon Restaurant has been turning out bento boxes by the dozen and sending them out the door to firehouses, utility crews, schools and families across the island.
Owner Sunho Kang said the restaurant began donating meals shortly after Typhoon Sinlaku, starting around April 18. Depending on supplies and need, the kitchen prepares between 30 and 150 meals a day.
Meals have gone to first responders at the Garapan, Susupe, Koblerville, Capitol Hill, Airport and Kagman fire stations, with Garapan and Susupe receiving deliveries twice. Commonwealth Utilities Corporation workers have received donations on two occasions. Transit workers, students and staff at Marianas High School, Northern Marianas College and Saipan Community School, and personnel at the Department of Corrections have also been served.
Volunteers, elderly residents, families affected by the typhoon and neighboring community members have received meals as well. The restaurant has worked with United4Saipan, the Ayuda Foundation and the Red Cross to get bentos to people in need. During the recovery period, Yewon also organized free curry giveaways for community members who visited the restaurant.
Yewon Restaurant has served Saipan for 18 years. Kang said the restaurant was also hit by Sinlaku, dealing with power outages, water shortages and increased operational costs. The kitchen kept running on generators in order to continue serving the community.
In a message to the community, Kang said, “We are stronger together. Even a small warm meal can bring comfort and hope during difficult times. Thank you to everyone helping Saipan recover. Originally, we hoped to keep these efforts quiet, but we now hope that our small acts of giving can become a spark for more kindness and spread a greater positive influence throughout the community.”
Kang thanked his family, staff, volunteers and community partners who have helped prepare and deliver meals throughout the recovery.
Show Us the Good Out There is a community-submitted feature series on NMI News Service that highlights the everyday acts of kindness, generosity and connection happening across the Marianas. NMI News Service also seeks out stories worth telling like this one when we notice something good happening in the community.
To share something good you have witnessed or been part of, email a photo and a brief description to brad.ruszala@nminewsservice.com.
