The Salvation Army is caring for the people who are most vulnerable to Coronavirus Covid-19 nationwide

Please help us monitor and respond in your community to the global pandemic

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USA National Commander Response to Coronavirus COVID-19

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To support The Salvation Army, a monetary donation ensures we can continue service delivery in your community. Financial contributions allow us to quickly respond to changing needs, as well as support local economies through the purchase of goods. Every dollar gives hope to those living in poverty during this pandemic.

In-kind goods of non-perishable food, baby supplies, hygiene products, cleaning and sanitizing items, and paper products are also welcome at select Salvation Army facilities.

Check with your local Salvation Army to learn what’s needed.

The Salvation Army’s Nationwide Response to Coronavirus COVID-19

As the coronavirus COVID-19 has evolved into a pandemic, we are monitoring the situation daily. Safety is of utmost priority, so we have ramped up efforts to slow the spread of this virus among our employees, volunteers, and the homeless and other vulnerable people we serve.

In the United States, one in six people live in poverty, and more than 550,000 are counted as homeless. These populations severely lack access to proper care, hygiene, updated information, and medical resources, which makes them more susceptible to the virus. This is where we come in. This is who we serve.

We are working with local, state, and federal government and health authorities, including participating in situation awareness calls with federal partners like FEMA, CDC, DHS, and HHS. We are developing new hygiene and cleaning protocols to help keep safe our residents and others who depend on The Salvation Army’s programs and services to survive. In addition, all staff, volunteers, and program participants have been sent hygiene and prevention information as recommended by the CDC.

Meanwhile, our local divisions will continue to work in close partnership with area government and health experts to prepare and respond to meet specific community needs of 23 million individuals we serve each year and the more than 63,000 employees of our organization. We will continue to update this page as developments warrant.

We need support from our communities to continue to meet the daily needs of these vulnerable populations. Your donations will continue to help us respond to the situation.

Get Help

We’re serving people who have been impacted by COVID-19 all around the country.
If you or a loved one needs help, please contact your local Salvation Army to see what services are available in your area.

The Salvation Army’s service across the nation:

Corps in Alabama are coordinating with local school districts to provide meals at six distribution points for school-aged children.
Area Commands and Corps are packing meals-to-go at their facilities for homeless clients.

In Anchorage, we are operating the only homeless shelter, with flexible hours, that provides emergency housing for two-parent families and fathers with children.
We are conducting wellness checks for new clients entering the facility. We have also limited the comings and goings of residents and have closed programs to visitors.
We are providing to-go meals for the homeless and have added mealtimes, including lunch, at family shelters.
The Meals on Wheels program is still active.
Many congregate meals have been converted to drive-thru and are being delivered, and we also have canteens ready to deploy as needed.
The Salvation Army is working with state and local governments in Alaska to meet needs including efforts to utilize the military to get food and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)s to more remote areas.
The Salvation Army has been requested to feed and manage a downtown hotel to house those who are on mandatory quarantine.

We are providing room-to-room delivery and offering drive-thru meals to the homeless and to seniors at Silvercrest, a senior residence center run by The Salvation Army.
We are providing childcare for first responders.
The Hospitality House in Tucson is no longer accepting open-air donations such as Starbucks.
We are conducting case management over the phone instead of face-to-face.
Arizona has set up an emotional and spiritual care hotline for those looking for help, and are calling to check in on seniors to make sure their needs are being met. They’re also working in small teams to provide social media skills to seniors to help them stay connected.
The Salvation Army has been designated as the lead for donations management for Arizona. The Salvation Army will warehouse and distribute all in-kind donations made to the state for affected individuals, families, and/or other NGOs providing disaster assistance.
We are providing motel lodging to those who need to quarantine.
Offering streamed wellness classes, youth programs, and worship and prayer services and providing training for seniors to access those streamed services.

The Salvation Army has used cleaning products that are rated effective in killing COVID-19 in heavily trafficked areas and hard surfaces in the facilities.
The Salvation Army is screening people as they come in, installed hand washing stations, and cross-trained employees to ensure the facility stays open.
The shelters are serving food in to-go containers, made changes to sleeping arrangements and are limiting face-to-face contact with social service staff through remote counseling.

Many counties in California are delivering prepared meals, boxes lunches or conducting food pantries for low-income individuals and families, seniors, and others in need.
They are also offering emotional care and social services via phone to isolated seniors and others.
For children out of school, many locations are offering activity kits for kids, as well as Bibles for pickup at the local Corps.
In Los Angeles, The Salvation Army is being designated as an essential service.
We have opened EDS warehouses for cleaning and hygiene kits.
We are assisting Silvercrest residents with online shopping and conducting wellness check-ins on seniors by phone and email.
Church services are being offered online.

We have provided comfort kits, bottled water, and boxed meals to the passengers returning from the Grand Princess cruise ship (through 3/18).
The Salvation Army is part of the state feeding program and is participating in the Colorado & Utah State Feeding Task Forces, Colorado State Homeless Support Task Force, and coordinating Colorado VOAD.
We are delivering food, boxed meals and daytime childcare activities to people quarantined through our partnership with the public health department.
We are partnering with local restaurants who are donating food, prepackaging them, and preparing 500 meals daily for current homeless shelters and clients in need.
The Salvation Army Aurora Corps has been asked to provide a heated quarantine preventative tent for people experiencing homelessness who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Connecticut is holding food drives and providing to-go meals for families in need throughout the state.

The Corps Community Centers have been closed to keep regular attendees safe and are providing to-go meals to people in need.
Implemented online prayer request ministry to engage in remote emotional and spiritual care.

Livestreaming youth programming and educational activities.
Serving community meals in to-go boxes, and providing food boxes to individuals and families in need.

In Florida, The Salvation Army has helped workers who were stranded due to carnival and fair cancellations return home.
We are distributing “Church in a Box” kits that contain devotional materials for adults, teens, and kids, as well as activities and games. They also include hand sanitizer, donuts for breakfast, etc.
The Salvation Army is providing meals for kids who are missing a meal each day by being out of school and is delivering food boxes to seniors after weekly programming was cancelled. We are distributing food items donated by Universal Studios (which closed due to COVID-19 concerns).
We are also taking online prayer requests. Local Salvation Army officers will call those requesting prayer to provide emotional and spiritual care over the phone.

In Georgia, The Salvation Army is performing client interviews and case management by phone.
We also transitioned our community feeding to grab-n-go for safety.
The Salvation Army is also distributing emergency kits that include face masks, gloves, disinfectant wipes, and toilet paper, with the support of Mercedes-Benz USA, The Coca-Cola Company, IHQ, UPS, and Alston and Bird.

The Kroc Center in Oahu has been converted to an emergency center in partnership with the local government. The Kroc Center and Camp Homelani have been made available to those seeking help.
Many locations in Hawaii are helping those in need on food. The Hilo Corps is opening the food bank on Tuesday and Friday to assist those who need services beyond a monthly food box. This includes toiletries, sanitizers, and other paper products received as part of a large donation.
The Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands requested donations of hygiene products as their various statewide corps and programs ramp up to provide emergency disaster services in the battle against the COVID-19 outbreak in Hawaii. Supplies requested include hand sanitizers, paper products, cleaning products, face masks, and other personal protective equipment. Monetary donations also continue to be needed to assist the response efforts.

The Salvation Army is fully engaged with city and county Emergency Management Operations.
The Salvation Army is picking up mail from the local post office and delivering it to quarantined residents, and is providing meals to seniors and shut-ins. We are brown-bagging all food distribution for safety.
Gift cards have been provided to seniors to obtain necessary supplies and food in remote towns of the same five counties.
Virtual Platform is providing online exercise, Bible studies, and worship services for members of the center. Virtual membership was established with the Kroc Center, as an expansion of our Incident Command Structure, to provide support to the eastern part of the Northwest Division.
In Idaho, food distribution continues throughout the state, but has transitioned to “brown bags” and to-go meals for safety.
The Client Choice food pantry has transitioned to food box distribution, and regular pantry usage limitations have been lifted.

In Illinois, The Salvation Army serves as the lead agency for mass care. Here, we are providing mass feedings to those in quarantine or isolation as well as feeding all first responders, including fire, police, and emergency operations center personnel.
The Salvation Army has drive-up pantries in place and we have partnered with Greater Chicago Food Depository to ensure no child will be hungry. We are providing mobile meals to certain locations in Peoria, including Taft Homes, Harrison Homes, and the River West area.
Our Emergency Disaster Services have provided 14,000 snacks, 10,000 drinks, and 750 meals, more than 1,000 blankets, more than 550 cots, more than 600 pillows and more than 5,000 face shields Emergency City Operations Center personnel and 311 operators, and passengers undergoing screenings at O’Hare Airport.

In Indiana, no visitors or guests are being allowed in shelters for safety, and food pantries are providing boxed meals for those in need.
The Salvation Army is providing detox treatment social distancing.
We have distributed prevention guidance to all staff, employees, volunteers, and program participants on proper hygiene and prevention.
Food pantries are now serving clients with food boxes that can be loaded directly into vehicles at drive-through pick-up stations in the parking lots.
Emergency assistance interviews have transitioned from in-person to over-the-phone.
Worship services have moved to online.

At this time, no guests or visitors are allowed in shelters for safety.
In Iowa, The Salvation Army is feeding children out of school in coordination with local school districts. Our food pantries are also making food boxes for pick-up and delivery.
We are also providing emotional and spiritual care through prayer and community care calls.

In Kansas, sack lunches are being handed out to those in need. We are working to ensure that no one goes hungry. Our food pantries have transitioned from client choice to food boxes.
In Kansas, The Salvation Army is providing cleaning supplies to people in need, as well as emergency food and financial assistance to families and individuals.
In our shelters, we have limited visitors and guests to keep residents safe.

In Kentucky, The Salvation Army is continuing to provide emergency food, shelter, and emergency financial relief following the recent tornadoes in Middle Tennessee.
We are using mobile feeding units to practice social distancing and still provide community food service.
Established an emergency shelter at the Kenton County Convention Center in partnership with Kenton County.
Select shelters are now 24/7 facilities at the request of local governments, and meals are being served in rooms.
We are working to identify feeding capacity across the state, in conjunction with NEOSA Division.
We are coordinating with Cincinnati Food Bank for food box resources.
We are participating in Feeding Task Force planning efforts.

The Salvation Army is working with partner agencies to distribute bulk commodities and food, in addition to emotional and spiritual care where requested. 
We are packing to-go meals at Area Commands and Corps facilities for homeless clients.
With the new shelter in place ordinance, the Salvation Army’s seven shelters throughout the state are housing residents 24/7 and are providing 3 meals a day.

Soup kitchen meals will be available from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily in Bangor. 
The Salvation Army stores in Bangor and Newport are closed, but food pantries, diaper banks, and heating assistances are still available by appointment.
We are delivering meals to local seniors and serving to-go lunches to those in need.

In Maryland, The Salvation Army is providing utility assistance to those economically impacted by COVID-19.
Our shelter times are also extended so residents can remain indoors and safely practice social distancing.

In Massachusetts, all feeding programs and food pantries will remain open with regular hours. These programs will now be conducted via outside distribution and comprise prepackaged meals.

In Michigan, we are serving prepackaged food to those in need and live-streaming church services.
The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services in Grand Rapids was designated a drop-off site for PPE, which they will donate to their first responders on the frontlines of the coronavirus fight.

In Minnesota, food shelves are open by appointment and grocery amounts will be distributed according to the size of each household. We are providing food boxes and our feeding programs have shifted to to-go meals for safety only.
At housing facilities, such as emergency homeless shelters, additional cleaning services are being conducted throughout the day with an elevated focus on high-traffic areas, and the same cleaning services are also occurring at permanent housing facilities.
We are conducting door-to-door check-ins to ensure the safety of the residents at permanent housing facilities.
Our social service offices are remaining open to provide emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, and transportation as resources allow.
Worship services are now livestreamed.

The Salvation Army is providing boxes of food and supplies to the homes of seniors and serving meals in shelters to those in need.
Shelters throughout the state are thoroughly cleaning at the facility with special attention on high traffic areas and are encouraging residents to wipe down their areas and clean with the sanitizing supplies available. If residents or staff members become sick, isolation/quarantine areas will be established.
Corps and shelters are limiting the number of volunteers coming in and the kitchen staff to approximately three at a time.

In Missouri, residential facilities are conducting additional cleaning services throughout the day with an elevated focus on high-traffic areas. Sanitation supplies are part of every location’s infectious-disease protocol.
The Salvation Army will continue to serve to the best of their abilities with their emergency assistance, social services, and emergency disaster services. Walk-ins and allowing people to congregate in the public area of their Corps will be limited.
For safety, food pantries will not allow food selection for the time being. All food will be preboxed for distribution to limit person-to-person contact.

In Montana, The Salvation Army is working with school districts to conduct food distribution routes that include lunch and dinner for kids.
We are also setting up a hygiene center.

In Nebraska, residential facilities are conducting additional cleaning services throughout the day, with an elevated focus on high-traffic areas. Sanitation supplies are part of every location’s infectious-disease protocol.
The Salvation Army is also working with health officials at the local, state, and federal levels – including participating in situation-awareness calls with federal partners such as FEMA, CDC, DHA, and HHS.
In many places throughout the state, The Salvation Army food pantries are open and people are asked to remain in their cars while picking up their food boxes. They still have plans to continue their Friday night meals, but it will be to-go only.

In Nevada, The Salvation Army is providing congregate meals to the homeless, and many shelter are opening 30 to 60 minutes earlier, and staying open 30 minutes later, to serve increased need. Shelters are also serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner to program participants.
Emotional and spiritual care is being offered to those who need it during this time.
Drive-up service for distribution of diapers, wipes, shampoo, toilet paper, and water.
Delivery of water to elderly clients unable to leave their homes.
Children’s bible lessons are being provided via email and church services are being livestreamed.
Offering rent and utility assistance to residents who need help during this time.

In New Hampshire, residential facilities are conducting additional cleaning services throughout the day, with an elevated focus on high-traffic areas, surfaces, furniture, door handles, and floors. Sanitation supplies are part of every location’s infectious-disease protocol.
The Salvation Army is working with health officials at the local, state, and federal levels – including participating in situation-awareness calls with federal partners such as FEMA, CDC, DHA, and HHS. 
All offices will remain open for emergency services by appointment to ensure safety and social distancing as per the CDC and local officials.

In New Jersey, soup kitchens closed for congregate meals but The Salvation Army is handing out to-go meals outside. Food pantries are also bringing pre-packaged bags to cars, outside or delivering to vulnerable populations.
The Boys and Girls Club at Newark Ironbound Corps is providing learning and tutoring online.
All Pathway of Hope casework is being done remotely. 
All worship services are available through livestreaming.

The Santa Fe Salvation Army has partnered with Santa Fe Public Schools Communities and Hope Unlimited Church to provide extended breakfast and lunch to kids, curbside pick-up style, in seven areas; it will last until the beginning of April.
Food boxes and sack lunches are being distributed to families, homeless and seniors in need.
Laundry and shower services are being offered.
We are offering rent/utility assistance and bus passes, as well as emotional and spiritual care.
In New Mexico, commodities continue to be distributed to seniors from the parking lot.
All “client choice” pantries have been closed.

The Salvation Army and New York City Relief are serving food and providing detox services, shelter references, and employment information to the homeless.
We are partnering with New York Disaster Interfaith Services to develop training around pastoral care/chaplaincy, worship, pandemic tabletop exercises.
The Greater New York Division HIV programs are being conducted remotely.
Officers are conducting worship services, small groups, and emotional and spiritual outreach through different digital platforms: Google Classroom, Facebook Live, WhatsApp, and conference calls.
In New York, Corps that have closed programs are offering educational packets to kids and the Empire Division daycare centers and licensed school-age programs are serving working parents. 
The Salvation Army of Niagara Falls, New York and The Justice League of Western New York have partnered to deliver toys, games, and learning tools to local children.

The Salvation Army of Greensboro closed all Boys and Girls Club’s locations and the School of Music and Arts.
Many of the food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the state maintain open, but all services will be done through a drive-thru. Boxed meal distributions have also begun.

We are delivering food boxes to those who tested positive and those in quarantine. We are also conducting food pantries.

In Ohio, The Salvation Army continues to serve those in the community but has made adjustments to their delivery program. They are delivering food boxes to those in need and hot meals are being delivered to the doors of seniors.
In many places throughout the state, social service programs are available by appointment only.

In Oklahoma, The Salvation Army shelters will still serve evening meals and The Lawton Boys and Girls Club is finding ways to serve kids even though their doors are closed.

Throughout the state, The Salvation Army has  drive-thru food pantries with prepackaged food and food boxes available. The Salvation Army Emergency Female Shelter in downtown Portland is serving food at the front door from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you need emergency supplies, we have the following available: underwear, clothing, toiletries, and blankets. These items are on an as-available basis.

Many Pennsylvania Salvation Army locations are serving meals in to-go boxes and prepackaging groceries. There is a focus on children at public housing sites in these communities who normally would receive free and reduced-priced lunches at school to ensure they will not go hungry.
The Salvation Army is also providing emotional and spiritual care, and hydration support.

All public programming paused.
All Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma disaster relief case management being conducted via telephone.

In Rhode Island, residential facilities are conducting additional cleaning services throughout the day, with an elevated focus on high-traffic areas. Sanitation supplies are part of every location’s infectious-disease protocol. If a resident or staff member gets sick, isolation or quarantine areas will be established, additional healthcare will be needed, and food assistance will be provided.

In South Carolina, The Salvation Army is working with local, state, and federal government and health authorities, including participating in situation-awareness calls with federal partners like FEMA, CDC, DHS, and HHS. We are developing new hygiene and cleaning protocols to help keep safe the residents and others who are dependent on The Salvation Army’s programs and services.

In South Dakota, The Salvation Army has pickup food options available at local food pantries.

In Tennessee, The Salvation Army is maintaining readiness to assist and serve people of their community. They have increased education, cleaning, and disinfection efforts at all their facilities, posting flyers and providing adequate supplies to staff, residents, and guests.
As of right now, the Kroc Center in Memphis has closed.

Throughout Texas, The Salvation Army is serving free pickup lunch meals for families, and children out of school. Meals are served to small groups, and community meals have transitions to to-go meals for safety.
Shelters are actively screening incoming residents and volunteers by asking about any symptoms. If someone reports coronavirus symptoms, staff immediately recommend medical treatment at a nearby county hospital. If necessary, special quarantine areas will be set up inside the shelters.

The Salvation Army is part of the state feeding program and is participating in the Colorado & Utah State Feeding Task Forces, Colorado State Homeless Support Task Force, and coordinating Colorado VOAD.
We are working with local, state, and federal government and health authorities, including participating in situation-awareness calls with federal partners like FEMA, CDC, DHS, and HHS.
We are developing new hygiene and cleaning protocols to help keep residents and others who depend on The Salvation Army’s programs and services to survive safely. All staff, volunteers, and program participants have been sent hygiene and prevention information as recommended by the CDC.

In Vermont, The Salvation Army is preparing food boxes and staging distributions. We also have food pantries that are utilizing mobile distribution and are serving to-go meals.
The Springfield ARC is serving as a regional warehouse for bulk delivery of supplies.
Worship services are available through livestreaming.

In Virginia, The Salvation Army is providing box meals, and our food pantries are providing a drive-thru service to limit contact.
We are also providing social services online and through phone interviews when possible to limit exposure to our staff and clients.
The Salvation Army is delivering “boxes of fun” to treat children who are stuck at home. Each box contains art supplies, board games, activity sheets, candy, and children’s devotions. The first target population is children who participate in The Salvation Army’s weekly children’s program, Youth Downtown. Next week, families in need will be able to pick up boxes of fun from The Salvation Army pantries, while supplies last.

The Salvation Army in Washington is offering hygiene and sanitation services, including laundry washing, in areas where there isn’t a shelter. We are also operating an outreach program to people living in their cars and other vehicles, as well as case management via phone.
We are deploying mobile food delivery throughout the state.
Throughout Washington, housing programs and shelter programs will remain fully operational, with precautionary measures like no meetings, increased space between residents, etc.
Snohomish County asked The Salvation Army to operate a shelter in April using a voucher program at a local hotel. Forty-four rooms per night have been made available.
We are calling seniors to offer assistance and is distributing boxes from their parking lot.
Virtual worship is taking place in all Corps.
In cooperation with King County, The Salvation Army moved the residents of its Harborview Hall shelter so officials could use it for a 45-bed COVID-19 recovery center for vulnerable patients. The move will free up more space in the hospital for patients in need of acute care.

The Salvation Army is offering utility assistance by appointment.
Our shelter residents have been given amended times for occupancy, and we are cleaning and sterilizing after clients leave.

In Wisconsin, The Salvation Army has a lunch program in place: Servings are placed in to-go containers and in some cases are picked up from a canteen outside the center. Many locations are also operating food pantries for those in need.
We are also offering laundry access and emergency assistance to those who need it.

The Salvation Army Cheyenne is still offering food services, but with modified plans. Weekdays they are serving “hot grab-and-go style” lunches. People are also able to pick up 30-day food bags.

We have no information for this area yet.
Check back soon for more details.

Covid-19 Partners

The Salvation Army is proud to partner with the following organizations who support our mission to meet human need during this health crisis.

PR contacts

National media relations are handled by The Salvation Army National Headquarters in Alexandria, VA, and its public relations consultant, Richards Partners.

All local media are asked to first contact their local Salvation Army representative for all inquiries, including spokesperson requests.

Territorial Press Contacts Local Contacts

For national media queries, please contact:

Joseph Cohen
The Salvation Army
703-299-5551
joseph.cohen@usn.salvationarmy.org

For corporate partnerships, please contact:

Jaime Joswick
The Salvation Army
jaime.joswick@usn.salvationarmy.org

For all other inquiries, please contact your local Salvation Army

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