• Christopher Priest

The Salvation Army Coronavirus Response Continues

Atlanta, GA: The Salvation Army’s work persists in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that is impacting the globe. In the Southeastern United States, that work includes a number of outreach initiatives in service to the community.

In Louisville, Kentucky, The Salvation Army’s Christian Joy Center has been converted to an emergency shelter, set up to accommodate up to 100 people who have been diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19. The center, a former Nabisco warehouse, has a large interior with more than 30,000 square feet of space, allowing the implementation of social distancing practices. In conjunction with Phoenix Health Care for the Homeless, The Salvation Army is also helping to provide health monitoring and acute care when necessary, all while preparing nearly 2,000 meals per day for to-go distribution throughout the city.

As part of the “Love Local, Buy Suffolk” community initiative designed to support local businesses, The Salvation Army’s Suffolk corps is morphing into a drive-thru restaurant of sorts on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Local vendors provide nearly 100 meals during each afternoon for residents impacted by self-quarantines and food shortages, with The Salvation Army also delivering activity bags — to go along with food boxes and emotional and spiritual care — to local children forced to stay home due to school closings.

The Salvation Army is delivering food to those in need and shifting its distribution protocols in Greensboro, South Carolina. Following social distancing guidelines, individuals line up, provide their information and emerge with needed supplies on a twice-weekly basis. Demand has increased from individuals that are now without work, and staff and volunteers have been trained on the new guidelines, streamlining the process to help as many families as possible during this critical time.

Coffee ministry has taken hold in Conway, Arkansas, with a case worker for The Salvation Army setting up a service that is available throughout the day. Sanitary guidelines are closely observed, with individuals not only receiving coffee, but also a friendly smile and a listening ear. Food distribution continues in Conway, with The Salvation seeking to help the community in any way possible, but there is a need for donated items, including non-perishable items like peanut butter, tuna, canned meats, rice, pasta and canned vegetables.

Continuing a regular Plog Post written by Brad Rowland, Staff Writer, The Southern Spirit Newspaper