Blaine Memorial UMC Benefit Bazaar Thank-Yous!
By Lesley Okura and Howard Nakase
This year’s Benefit Bazaar could not have been successful without our guests and the teams of volunteers who prepared, cooked, and cleaned during this busy time. Mission Guatemala, this year’s beneficiary, will certainly receive a boost in support thanks to the time and talent of our friends and faith community. The leadership of Lesley Okura and Howard Nakase thank you.
Blaine Memorial UMC’s annual Benefit Bazaar 2024 is now a footnote in its 120th Anniversary history. Bazaar has many moving parts — and many leaders and volunteers to make those parts move. The list below is just a fraction of the members, friends, and families that contributed to make this a success. Big thank you to all of you and please forward any additional names to my attention.
I want to thank our committee leaders:
Tsukemono
- Jim Okura
- Dave Hayasaka
Grill Pitmasters
- Joe Adolfo
- Jason Lew
- Tim Ikegami
- Howard Nakase
- Steve Sofronas
Marination Masters
- Steve Sakahara
- Lisa Mar
Rice Head
- John Hodge
Bazaar Poster Design Team
- Ally Sofronas
- Steve Sofronas
Farmers Market
- Stacy Nagaoka Shirouzu
- Wendy Yates
Exceptional Donations
- SK Produce
- Dave Yorozu
Bakery Sales
- Julie Lock
Pie and Ohagi Sales
- Terri Adolfo
Ohagi
- Donna Sekijima
Curry Crew Leadership
- Tina Fujii
Vegetarian Yakisoba Introduction
- Howard Nakase
The Pied Piper Pie-Makers
- Ruth Watanabe
- Tom Yoshioka
- Roberta Yoshioka
Suno Dog and Beverage Sales
- Kaylee Yokoyama
- Kai Yamamoto
- Kobe Yamamoto
- Blaine Youth Group
Payment & Processing
- Susan Lee-Yamamoto (who has diligently brought us up-to-speed with payment processing technology again this year)
Dishwashing, Clean-up and Garbage Detail
- Harry Tang
- Joel Ing
After Sales
- Lisa Mar
- Collin Ikeda
- Sylvia Wong
Paper Goods Schleppers & Support
- Ron Nobuyama
- Barbara Nagaoka
Cashiering
- Barbara Nagaoka and George Yates (for handling the cashiering and not again, giving any change. Thank you for your donations!)
Take-Out Support
- Dale Watanabe
- Eugene and Kathy Onishi (Thank you for sacrificing your Huskies vs Michigan football tickets!!)
- Arlene Naganawa
Outstanding Committee Helpmates at Large
The rest of the committee who were outstanding helpmates and handled all our shortcomings and are my best friends:
- Ron Nobuyama
- Barbara Nagaoka
- Sally Sekijima
- Anne Arakaki-Lock
- Howard Nakase (Your future leader in all things)
Procurement, All-Around Guy
- Brian Okura
Recycle/Compost/Trash Monitor
- Pearl Yamamoto
Administration
- Yuki Sofronas (Thank you for taking care of the many inquiries, the posters and printing, the questions, and all things related to managing the behind-the-scenes activities)
Compost Guru
- Rev. Karen (Thank you for arranging composting and being our support guru)
Additional thank-yous to many others who were recruited, asked, and accepted. I am certain, in their hearts, these volunteers wanted to help build up the contribution toward Misson Guatemala and its education efforts for the children of their country. Our gratitude goes out to our volunteers for Bazaar 2024.
Thank you all for a wonderful community-based event that we have welcomed back at Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church!
Lesley Okura and Howard Nakase served as leadership for this year’s Blaine Memorial UMC Benefit Bazaar.