Official Peoria COVID-19 Press Release
The Peoria Salvation Army Continues to Provide Services for Those in Need
Peoria, IL (April 6th, 2020) – As anxiety rises over the COVID-19 pandemic, The Salvation Army continues to be there for those in need in the Peoria community. Our mission of “Doing the Most Good” doesn’t stop when the community faces a crisis. We are devoted to helping people who need it the most during these challenging times for our country.
“The Salvation Army has been a proud member of the Peoria community for many years committed to doing the most good for those in need,” said Major Jesse Collins, Tri-County Commander for The Salvation Army Heartland Division. “During these uncertain times, we will be there to support the community’s most basic human needs as well as their emotional and spiritual needs.”
The following programs and services will continue to be provided to the public. Our goal is to make sure that anyone who needs help will get it.
- The Salvation Army in Peoria has two different Food Pantries open for those people in need:
- The Salvation Army – Peoria Citadel, 2903 W. Nebraska Ave. in Peoria, will be open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- The Salvation Army - Family Services, 417 NE Adams in Peoria, will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.
- The Family Shelter and the Men’s Safety Net Program located at the Sylvia Fites Center will remain open for those in need of a safe haven.
- People staying in the shelters will continue to get a hot lunch and dinner each day.
- We will work with those people in need of a meal who are not staying in one of our shelters by offering a sack lunch program or connecting with other community resources to ensure no one goes hungry.
- Grab and Go Lunch bags will be available for anyone needing a meal Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Salvation Army Family Services while Lunch with Love is suspended during the COVID-19 restrictions.
- We are working with Peoria School District 150 and other community agencies to provide meals for school-aged children in the Peoria area:
- The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services team and the Peoria Citadel are working with Peoria School District 150 to help distribute food to school children who don’t live in close proximity to one of the distribution sites. The Salvation Army will be providing transportation vehicles and staff and volunteers to deliver the meals.
- The Salvation Army is providing mobile meals to certain locations in Peoria, including Taft Homes, Harrison Homes; Cityscapes, Lexington Hills and Woodlands Apartment Complexes from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
- Starting Monday, April 6, 2020 the Salvation Army will reopen it’s Child Care Center as an Emergency Child Care Center available to parents working essential jobs.
- At this time there are limited spots available which will be reserved for first responders and essential workers who are working through the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Social Services Director, Rachael Cansino noted, “In order to meet state guidelines for an emergency child care center, the Salvation Army is working to hire additional teachers to meet the required teacher-to-child ratio to serve more families in this time of need. We want to be in a position to provide this service for additional first responders in need of child care.”
- The Tri-County Emergency Disaster Services Emotional and Spiritual Care Team are offering calls of emotional and spiritual support for those people who would find comfort in having someone to talk to during these uncertain times. If you would like to talk with someone or if you know of an individual who you would like us to call and check in on, please contact our Care Team at (309) 202-6922 or (309) 202-5426.
- Majors Heath and Anita Sells at The Peoria Citadel provide online inspiration and share information on programs and services through their Facebook page . You can send them a message if you or someone you know would like a phone call with a prayer or encouragement from one of them.
For additional information, contact Kathy Anderson at (309) 339-3849
or Major Jesse Collins at (309) 265-2190.
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About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide.