Salvation Army Partners with Metro Mobility to Deliver Food
Thousands of Minnesotans have been laid off in recent weeks due to the COVID-19 outbreak, leaving many unsure of where their next meal will come from. In response, The Salvation Army Northern Division — which has seen a significant spike in requests for food assistance — is partnering with Metro Mobility, a service of the Metropolitan Council, to deliver food to people in need in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Since many people are staying home to prevent the spread of the virus, Metro Mobility has made available as many as 100 drivers and buses to help people in need—free of charge. The Salvation Army has implemented extra health and safety precautions while handling and distributing food pantry items, and being able to offer this service creates significantly higher levels of safety.
“The need for more food and meals has grown substantially,” said Lt. Colonel Lonneal Richardson, commander of The Salvation Army Northern Division. “Every day, more people are being furloughed or laid off from their jobs. Many of these families may be healthy, but they are not doing well. We’re extremely grateful for Metro Mobility’s generous offer of using their vehicles and staff to help feed those who need it most during this unprecedented crisis.”
“When we launched the Metro Mobility grocery and goods delivery, we also recognized the opportunity to support local food shelves by delivering to their customers,” said Nick Thompson, the Metropolitan Council’s Director of Transportation Services. “This partnership with The Salvation Army and other local food shelves is one way we can give back to people who are most in need. This assistance comes at a critical time and we are committed to helping see them through this.”
Requests for Salvation Army food pantry items have increased dramatically in the past two weeks; at one St. Paul location, food orders have increased by 800 percent.
“Such increases in demand are stretching our resources,” Richardson said, adding that the public can help by providing a financial gift at salvationarmynorth.org.
Program participants must meet income eligibility requirements. For more information, call the Salvation Army food pantry nearest you:
- Salvation Army—Temple
1604 E. Lake St., Minneapolis, MN 55407
Tel: (612) 721-1513 - Salvation Army—Parkview
2024 Lyndale Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55411
Tel: (612) 522-4871 - Salvation Army—Noble
10011 Noble Pkwy., Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
Tel: (763) 425-0517
(limited availability) - Salvation Army—Eastside
1019 Payne Ave., St. Paul, MN 55130
Tel: (651) 776-8169 - Salvation Army—Citadel
401 West 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 55102
Tel: (651) 224-4316 - Salvation Army—Lakewood
2080 Woodlynn Ave., St. Paul, MN 55109
Tel: (651) 779-9177 - Salvation Army—Central
2727 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
Tel: (612) 789-2858 - Salvation Army—Center City Service Center
53 Glenwood Ave. #1, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Tel: (612) 659-0711 - Anoka County Social Services Center
1201 89 th Ave. NE #130, Blaine, MN 55434
Tel: (763) 755-6873 - Dakota County Social Services Office
13901 Fairview Dr., Burnsville, MN 55337
Tel: (952) 898-9367
The Salvation Army Northern Division serves 324,000 people a year throughout North Dakota and Minnesota by providing food, shelter, disaster response and other critical services, meeting human needs without discrimination. In this time of crisis, your donation will help those in your community who need food, help with utilities, safe shelter, and hope. Visit SalvationArmyNorth.org.