Tons of Food Given to Waukesha County Salvation Army Through Postal Drive
For more information contact:
Dana Baumgartner
Social Services Director
Waukesha County Salvation Army
Phone: 262-547-7367, ext. 229
For Immediate Release: Friday, May 17, 2019
Tons of Food Given to Waukesha County Salvation Army Through Postal Drive
Volunteers now working to sort, cull and shelve it all
(Waukesha) . . . Volunteers are busy at the Waukesha County Salvation Army sorting tons of non-perishable food items donated by city of Waukesha residents, then collected by postal service employees on mail routes this past Saturday, May 11th.
As each load was brought in, the food was weighed; donations tallied nearly 42,000 pounds in the city of Waukesha alone. The annual event is an outreach of local letter carriers and nationwide produces inventory for food and hunger programs of many kinds.
Food donations received on City of Waukesha routes are split between the Salvation Army Food Pantry on Madison Street and the Waukesha Food Pantry on Sentry Drive. Both organizations are each sorting through roughly ten tons of canned and packaged food.
“The annual postal carriers food drive is vital to those who depend upon us for basic nutrition,” explained Dana Baumgartner, social services director of the Waukesha County Salvation Army. “We are so grateful for the generosity of caring people who give to this annual Spring-time event. It re-stocks our pantry.”
Through its Food Pantry, its Community Hot Meal Program (three-nights-per-week), its Feed the Kids Program and its Emergency Mens Shelter meals, the Waukesha County Salvation Army feeds hundreds weekly.
“We’re seeing growth in the number of new households signing up for help from the food pantry,” stated Amber Mussomeli, community outreach specialist at the Waukesha County Salvation Army.
Food pantry benefits are available to those who have pre-registered with their photo ID, a piece of mail verifying their address, and with the names and birthdates of each person in the household. Household size determines the amount of food provided, she explained.
This Fall brings a milestone for the pantry-- September marks two years that the Salvation Army Food Pantry has operated as a “Choice” pantry. Rather than being a bag of groceries that volunteers have pre-filled, clients are able to shop for the items they prefer and need. “This means much less food waste,” said Mussomeli. “After all, it’s how everyone shops. Now, those whom we’re helping can choose their food, too.”
If interested in volunteering for the food pantry or other ministries, sign-up online at WaukeshaSalvationArmy.org. Financial gifts to support the nutrition program are also continually needed.
The Waukesha County Salvation Army is 501(c)3 charity whose annual budget is roughly $1.5-million for programs that address many human needs in Waukesha County, including:
- the largest homeless shelter for men in Waukesha County;
- its large food pantry;
- hundreds of free hot evening meals weekly in its dining hall, on Tues, Thurs and Sat;
- distributing tens of thousands of donated bakery items and loaves of bread to the poor;
- helping provide free backpacks of weekend meal food-- for families-- distributed through school;
- a popular Summer Day Camp program through its Youth Ministry;
- varied programs to provide emergency help with prescriptions and utilities;
- at Christmas, managing a family “Toy Shop” so children in disadvantaged families can enjoy gifts;
- producing a series of annual community Christmas Concerts in mid-December; and much more
Founded locally in 1894, this is the Waukesha County Salvation Army’s 125th year. More information about a special eight-week history exhibit at the Waukesha County Museum is available at WCHSM.org and more information about the Waukesha County Salvation Army’s many programs is available at WaukeshaSalvationArmy.org
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The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. The Salvation Army was founded in London, England in 1865.