GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - The Grand Island Salvation Army is seeing an increased need during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is in turn creating some needs of their own.
Since the start of the pandemic, the Salvation Army transformed its Hot Meal Program into to-go meals only. Due to spacing restrictions, the cafeteria remains closed for people to eat inside.
Staff is giving out about 280 meals a day for lunch and dinner, nearly double the amount they gave out pre-pandemic.
“We have been non-stop since the beginning, because we couldn’t close our doors,” said Lt. Liza Ayala, Grand Island Salvation Army. “How could we close our doors when we know there’s a need? As long as we can provide and meet that need we’re going to be here and we’re going to do that.”
At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Salvation Army employees could be found prepping the day’s lunch in the kitchen. It consisted of donated HyVee pizzas, supplemented with oranges, chips and pop.
People filed into the cafeteria at noon. Volunteers organized how many could be inside at once. To maintain social distancing, people stood on orange tape spaced six feet apart.
Servers put the food and drinks on trays, sliding them out to minimize contact. On their way out, people could grab a grocery bag full of cucumbers.
Shari Davis of Grand Island has participated in the Salvation Army’s Hot Meal Program for five years. She picks up food at the facility almost every day.
“It’s very helpful, because we run out of food stamps and my boyfriend’s disabled,” Davis said. “So it helps out a lot. It’s the best way for our family to eat.”
The added cost of to-go containers leaves less money for the Salvation Army to purchase food. Ayala said they’re buying trays for big meals, plastic bags for sandwiches, aluminum sheets for hot sandwiches and containers for soup and fruit.
Ayala said the Salvation Army has two walk-in freezers. The downstairs freezer is currently empty. She said that means they have about one month of meals left before food runs out.
Meat is one food Ayala said the Salvation Army needs the most. She said they’ll take anything cooks can use for an entree. Fruit - fresh or canned, noodles and large cans of condensed soup are also welcome. Ayala said they don’t need vegetables right now thanks to many donations from local farmers.
“The need here in Grand Island is year round,” Ayala said. “So those donations, every bit that comes in, goes to help those that we serve.”
Ayala said you can bring food or monetary donations to the Grand Island Salvation Army, 818 W. 3rd St., from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Grand Island Salvation Army is also in need of volunteers to help prepare food for lunch and dinner and with cleanup. You can call the facility at 308-382-4855 for more information.
Copyright 2020 KSNB. All rights reserved.
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Grand Island Salvation Army in need of food donations for meal program - KSNB
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