The Salvation Army Responds to COVID-19 Pandemic Across the Tri-State Western Division
Salvation Army officers, staff and volunteers across the Western Division – which includes Nebraska, South Dakota and western Iowa – are working hard to support people in need in their communities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a glimpse of some their efforts, from Pine Ridge to the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro and beyond.
North Platte, Nebraska
Staff and volunteers of The Salvation Army of North Platte handed out food to hundreds of individuals and families in need at a drive-up distribution site at the corps on March 26. "There's over 100 cars that have gone through the line already, so there's a great need out there right now," said volunteer Sid Collins. See the KNOP news story from March 26.
Omaha-Council Bluffs metro
The Salvation Army of Omaha and Council Bluffs is partnering with Food Bank for the Heartland, Westside Nutritional Services, Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue, local school districts and other nonprofit organizations to feed food-insecure children in the metro area whose schools were closed due to the pandemic. Trucks deliver meals to each food distribution site once a week via a drive-up distribution to prioritize the health and safety of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between all the participating organizations, this ongoing effort has been serving 26,000 meals per week to children in need. See the WOWT news story from March 20 (at the 10:08 p.m. mark).
The Salvation Army Burrows Center is filling, at times, nearly 1,000 grocery orders every week for people in need, almost five times the number of normal weekly orders, according to Tiffanie McCowin, director of Material Assistance and Seasonal Services at the Burrows Center. See the KETV news story from March 17.
With the flip of a switch on the evening of Monday, April 6, the Kroc Center Omaha’s 144,000-square-foot building lit up the night with a brilliant display of lights, shining as a beacon of hope amid the COVID-19 pandemic. See the KMTV and Omaha World Herald stories.
Rapid City and Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota
The Salvation Army of the Black Hills will launch Pathway of Hope this spring to help those in need break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and reach long-term financial stability and success. “This is a more intentional focus on seeing measurable change in our community,” said Captain Kelsie Moreno. See the KNBN news story from March 25.
The Salvation Army of the Black Hills also distributed food and cleaning supplies to residents of Pine Ridge Reservation. With the nearest Walmart more than 100 miles away from the reservation, the food and supplies are helping to ease the burden on residents. See the KNBN news story from March 18.
Aberdeen, South Dakota
Volunteers and staff from The Salvation Army of Aberdeen distributed lunches to kids in need who are out of school. “I’m trying to feed four kids and don’t have the money,” said Robert Cope, who stopped by the canteen to pick up lunch. “The Salvation Army has just saved me a lot.”
“It gives parents the stability of knowing their kids have lunch during the day,” said Maj. Mary Hunt of the Aberdeen Salvation Army. See the KDLT news story from March 16.
To help meet the needs of those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, please consider making a donation to The Salvation Army’s COVID-19 Relief Fund here.