• Christopher Priest

The Salvation Army Stepping Up to Meet the Need During the Pandemic

Atlanta, GA: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact millions worldwide. With that as the backdrop, The Salvation Army persists in its mission to meet human need in His name without discrimination, and there are numerous initiatives underway in the USA Southern Territory with that goal in mind.

Over the last three weeks in Lubbock, Texas, The Salvation Army has provided rent and utility assistance to those impacted by COVID-19, in part due to the help of a generous grant from the Community Foundation of West Texas and the Lubbock Area United Way. The Salvation Army is also partnering with a local landlord, Park Meadows Villas in East Lubbock, to provide on-site assistance and a light meal via a mobile feeding unit. This on-site assistance sweep serves as an additional mechanism to be certain that those who need assistance have direct access to resources.

With many students operating in remote learning environments, a shortage of educational materials has emerged. In Shawnee, Oklahoma, that is certainly the case, and The Salvation Army is stepping in to meet the need. Annally, the Salvation Army distributes 600-700 backpacks to needy families in a three-county radius in the region. With additional supplies in reserve, employees put together educational supply kits including pencils, crayons, glue sticks, pens, rulers and scissors for families to utilize during this trying time. This package was accompanied with a letter of encouragement from local Salvation Army officers, as well as coloring sheets and a craft project.

In late April, The Salvation Army’s corps community center in Danville, Virginia was defaced with spray-painted graffiti, but that setback did not slow the process of continuing service to the community. The Salvation Army’s local feeding program persists, serving nearly 100 people per day, with additional distribution through food boxes. Blessing bags are also being distributed for youth in the community and, earlier in April, The Salvation Army partnered with the Virginia Youth Health Equity Leadership Institute to pick up and distribute more than 500 food boxes to more than a dozen community partners.

Continuing a Blog Post written by Brad Rowland, Staff Writer, Southern Spirit Newspaper.