Staying Connected Across Northern Indiana: Serving Our Communities Through the Pandemic
With many of our regular programs on hold or adjusted to meet safety protocols, it may seem more difficult to serve The Salvation Army communities, both physically and spiritually. However, the dedicated officers at our corps across the state are using the resources still available to them to make sure they can help struggling Hoosiers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Salvation Army Logansport Indiana relies on donations from the local community to their food pantry in order to keep providing food to those in need during this difficult time. Thanks to the generosity of local businesses such as First Farmer’s Bank and Trust, they continue to stock their food pantry with basic needs items for those who are experiencing food insecurity due to the pandemic. Individuals can also come to the corps to receive to-go meals. In order to more effectively serve their community, the corps has had to adjust their food pantry hours to minimize traffic at the facility.
Major Nathan Harms of the Logansport corps is also serving the community spiritually through digital prayer and worship. In addition to the corps’ online worship services, Major Harms has recently taken to Facebook to pray for those affected by COVID-19. Despite restrictions brought on by the pandemic, as they state to followers on their Facebook page, “We are closed but we are still here. Still serving. Still fighting. Still praying.”
The Salvation Army Lafayette has found ways to utilize their resources in partnership with other organizations in their community, as they band together to serve the homeless of Lafayette.
“You have to work with each other during the crisis,” Lt. Aaron Johnson of the Lafayette Corps said. In this spirit of collaboration, Lt. Johnson worked with one of the corps’ advisory board members to serve the homeless of the community. By procuring 40 cots to be used at the local YWCA, this partnership helped turn the YWCA facility into an overflow shelter for those experiencing homelessness during the crisis. The Salvation Army Lafayette’s corps officers have also been reaching out to help the homeless community by serving lunch at Lafayette Transitional Housing. It is through the strength of our teamwork that we will make a difference in our communities through these uncertain times.
The corps officers of The Salvation Army Kokomo Indiana have been going above and beyond to show their love and care for their church members during this time of social isolation. Despite not being able to meet in person, Majors David and Zandra Luft have been stopping by the homes of their church members to drop off small tokens of appreciation to let their community know that they are loved and missed. One weekend, the officers dropped off mini loaves of homemade bread. During the Easter season, they delivered Easter lilies and tulips to the homes of their congregates, calling the individuals to let them know of their special delivery. It is through these small interactions, these little acts of kindness and love, that we remain connected to one another through this tough time.