Press Release from the Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army Evolving to Meet Needs in Hudson
Due to COVID-19, the Organization is Looking for Support to Meet Increasing Level of Need
(Hudson, New York, April 6th, 2020) – The Salvation Amy is stretching its resources to meet the dramatic increase of needs of those economically impacted by the recent novel coronavirus pandemic. The Salvation Army Service Center located in Hudson, NY operates the only soup kitchen in Columbia County that serves daily lunches. It also provides a food pantry three days a week. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, The Salvation Army in Hudson will continue to ensure that low-income individuals and families have access to desperately needed resources like food.
Within just two weeks of the coronavirus impacting New Yorkers, the center saw a dramatic increase in the community’s use of services. “As with any crisis or disaster, we are already embedded in the local community, so we are already to serving and will be here as long as we are needed,” says Darcy Connor, Director of The Salvation Army’s Hudson Service Center. “We are now serving lunch to an average between 30 to 60 a day and food pantry cases have increased to 45 to 55 each day and we anticipate that these numbers are only going to get worse.”
The center continues to serve daily hot lunches on Monday-Friday from 11:30 to 12:30. “Those meals are now boxed or bagged for individuals to stop and pick up,” says Connor. The food pantry is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:00 to 10:00 am. Connor adds, “Bags are prefilled with food and placed on outside tables for families who need them.We are also delivering food to the homeless living in nearby county motels, the elderly, and any others at high risk for infection. It’s always been the generosity of our community that has gotten us through, and we need it now more than ever!”
The Salvation Army is currently seeking donations or finances to purchase:
- Emergency food and supplies to supplement current stockpiles donated by local supermarkets and the Regional Food Bank.
- Gas for food deliveries to families in need who cannot come to the center
- “Take out“meal containers (not previously budgeted for)
- Diapers and baby formula for parents who have lost their jobs
- Milk "gift cards" to supplement the food pantry distribution for families with children
With an expected spike in requests for help over the coming weeks, months, and potentially years, ongoing public support will be needed to help ensure that services are available. You can donate online at https://give.salvationarmy.org/hudson or send a check to the Salvation Army, PO Box 746, Hudson NY 12534 or drop it off at 40 South Third Street and thank these wonderful people from safe distance. We also have a Walmart “Registry for Good” bit.ly/HudsonRegistry4Goodwhich allows people to purchase items folks will continue to need during this very unsettling time and the items will be sent directly to our service center.
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About The Salvation Army Empire State Division
The Empire State Division of The Salvation Army covers 48 counties in upstate New York and one city in Pennsylvania (Sayre, Pa.).Our annual Red Kettle Campaign in November and December helps our 45 community centers and 166 volunteer driven service units raise funds that remain in each community to help those in need.
For more information go to: empire.salvationarmy.org
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