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

 

As the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic continues, 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.

See our COVID-19 Impact Report

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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.
  • Due to the statewide stay-at-home order, all Salvation Army shelters in Alabama will be operating 24/7. All social services will still be provided, by appointment, to practice a safe social distancing. 
  • We’re deploying mobile feeding units to feed first responders, highway crew, and survivors of ongoing natural disasters during COVID-19, like Easter Sunday’s tornadoes. 
  • Supporting Walmart COVID-19 testing sites.         
  • ALM Area Commands, Corps and Service Centers continue to provide services such as food pantry distribution, utility and rent assistance, homeless shelter operations and some to-go-meals and mobile food service delivery to general population. 
  • Participating in daily state emergency management, mass care and public health coordination calls.
  • We are serving prepackaged food at a quarantined facility, as requested by local officials
  • The Older Alaskan Program has increased deliveries to seniors, and the Fairbanks Corps is assisting with prescription medications. 
  • The Anchorage Corps daycare is open to employees, providing to-go meals, wellness checks for new clients, lunches in residential programs.
  • We are also housing and feeding families experiencing homelessness in Anchorage. 
  • Meals on Wheels active, and congregate meals have been converted to drive-through or delivery. 
  • Incident management teams have been assigned to remote outer islands. The Salvation Army of Juneau has a partnership with the city for feeding people living on the streets.  
  • The Salvation Army Kings Lake Camp is being considered as an emergency shelter location in the Mat-Su Valley. 
  • In Anchorage, we are operating the only homeless shelter, with flexible hours, that provides emergency housing for two-parent families and fathers with children.  
  • 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) 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 24-hour emergency housing for children who need to be quarantined away from home due to COVID-19 contact or illness. 

  • Phoenix Kroc Center is providing myriad services, including to-go breakfast and lunch to kids, food boxes and supplies to the public, wellness checks with 100 seniors per day, case management with low income families in partnership with school districts, streamed classes, and emotional and spiritual care. 
  • Other Salvation Army units around the state are doing mobile outreach with basic needs and resource navigation for homeless families, food delivery, food box pickup, drive-through food distribution, recreation and music therapy one family at a time, case management by telephone, online GED program.  
  • The Kroc Day Care is open for as much as 20 children of first responders from Banner Hospital. 
  • Counseling is being done over the phone in several shelters to maintain social distance.  
  • The Chandler Corps received a large donation of dog food, which they’ve distributed in their community to pet owners.  
  • The Prescott Corps participated in a food and supplies drive with a local radio station, where some 250 people drove through and gave 3,000 pounds of essential supplies.  
  • We are providing 900 food boxes each week to the Salt River Indian Reservation, per request. 
  • We are providing room-to-room delivery and offering drive-thru meals to homeless people and seniors at Silvercrest, a senior residence center run by The Salvation Army. 
  • The Salvation Army in Arizona has an emotional and spiritual care hotline for those looking for help, and are conducting wellness checks over the phone with seniors to make sure their needs are met. They’re also working in small teams to provide social media education to seniors so they can stay connected. 
  • The Salvation Army has been designated as the lead for donations management for Arizona, and 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.  
  • In addition to COVID-19 relief, we are providing heat relief in 12 locations for those with no shelter on any day the National Weather Service issues an Excessive Heat Warning. 
  • Shelters throughout the state are being thoroughly cleaned and are adhering to CDC recommended guidelines for social distancing.
  • 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 and case management.   
  • In many areas, food box delivery has transitioned to drive-through for safety. Where supplies are available, activity kits are being offered for children.
  • Food boxes and/or meals are still being delivered to seniors and the homebound.
  • Shelters throughout the state are being thoroughly cleaned and are adhering to CDC recommended guidelines for social distancing.
  • We continue to look for and apply new ways to ensure service delivery continues to those in the most need.
  • The Salvation Army has established a HOPE line for emotional and spiritual care: (844) 458-HOPE (4673). 
  • The Salvation Army is providing lunch and snacks for those volunteering at Walmart COVID-19 testing sites.
 
  • We are serving food across the state in many different ways, including open-air lunches to seniors, food distribution via drive-through, food box delivery (in some cases to disabled, blind and/or senior citizens), and continue working with Public Health to find service gaps for The Salvation Army can fill. 
  • Providing more than 5,000 meals every day out of the Redwood Glan Camp, while also providing thousands of hot meals every day to homeless encampments throughout the state.  
  • The California South Division has served 13,028 food boxes and 14,910 packed meals. The division’s warehouse has distributed $572,552 in disaster supplies.  
  • We are have partnered with the city of Los Angeles to open four new emergency shelters, as well as to support an 800-bed field hospital. 
  • We have cleared out and converted Salvation Army thrift stores into emergency shelters to meet the growing need. 
  • We are practicing social distancing, as well as providing private rooms for anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms.   
  • We are conducting wellness checks with seniors over the phone and email, as well as providing activity kits for families in emergency shelters.  
  • In some communities, we are providing rental and/or utility assistance. Anyone needing these services should contact their local Salvation Army to find out if it’s available in their community. 
  • Cadets of The Salvation Army Training College were deployed to support preparation of hygiene kits and food bags.  
  • The Salvation Army in San Francisco is providing daycare for first responders.  
  • We have donated more than 60,000 masks to local hospitals in Los Angeles. 
  • We are caring for 53 local foster youth, ages 18–21, in Bakersfield. 
  • The Oakland Chinatown Corps collected 10,000 medical-grade masks from individuals, churches, community clubs and other non-profits and donated them to area first responders. 
  • In Los Angeles, The Salvation Army is being designated as an essential service.  
  • We are offering online church services.  
  • The Salvation Army of Northern California continues to operate residential homeless, homeless prevention, transitional living and adult rehabilitation centers, while adhering to social distancing guidelines. 
  • The San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) and The Salvation Army created a meal delivery program, MealsinPlaceSF, to prepare and deliver meals to people experiencing homelessness and living in encampments in San Francisco. The Salvation Army will serve 665 unsheltered people with 2 prepared meals and snacks delivered daily. This will be provided for 30 days initially. 
  • We are participating in a statewide initiative, called Project Roomkey, to stop the spread of COVID-19 by providing non-congregate shelter for people experiencing homelessness. Currently, we have opened four hotel shelters for those in need. 
  • The Salvation Army is the chair of the state feeding task force and is handling all food distribution on behalf of the state.
  • We are distributing boxed meals and food boxes in several counties, as well as access to showers and laundry for those affected and daytime childcare activities to people who are quarantined. 
  • We are distributing Walmart gift cards in rural communities.  
  • We have made The Salvation Army’s Camp Ponderosa available to First Responders. 
  • We are providing a quarantine location in shelters. 
  • We are partnering with local restaurants who are donating food, prepackaging food, and preparing 500 meals daily for homeless shelters and clients in need.  
  • We have joined forces with Catholic Charities of Central Colorado and Fuel Church to create a mobile feeding program for members of the community without access to hot meals for the month of April. 
  • We are providing to-go meals for truck drivers to keep them fueled as many restaurants are closed throughout the region. 
  • We are making masks for local hospital nurses and nursing homes. 
  • We are coordinating with the state to set up service hubs in conjunction with food banks across five (5) states. 
  • We are providing services at the same time across the state to help communities understand what services are available and when.  
  • Connecticut is holding food drives and providing to-go meals for families in need throughout the state. 
  • The Salvation Army is supporting State EOC operations.
  • We have implemented a prayer request form online to grant the public broader access to emotional and spiritual care. 
  • We are providing virtual alternatives to suspended, in-person worship services.
  • Four warehouse sites are providing food boxes.
  • We are providing mass feeding food box events, thanks to traffic control assistance provided by Delaware State Police and Delaware’s Department of Transportation. 
  • 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.
  • The Salvation Army is feeding volunteers at various Walmart COVID-19 testing sites. 
  • We are providing overflow shelters as the pandemic continues. Some of our Thrift Stores have been temporarily closed to offer a pop-up community relief center for those experiencing homelessness. 
  • 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.
  • We continue to provide assistance during COVID-19 while responding to severe weather throughout the state. 
  • The Salvation Army Corps and some Service Centers continue to increase feeding services with CDC protective measures incorporated. The services include larger numbers of clients and non-perishable mobile food distribution, especially to seniors and others who are high-risk, families with children, and to areas with minimal or no access to transportation. The Salvation Army is also providing meals to those who have been confirmed to have COVID-19 and to workers at testing sites. 
  • The Salvation Army is providing utility assistance to support those in need.

  • 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.  
  • The Kroc Center is also offering daycare for children of first responders and employees of essential businesses, in addition to providing meals for nurses in between shifts. 
  • 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. 
  • Delivering meals to those living on the streets, and disaster food boxes to families in need. 
  • Feeding nurses and medical professionals who are self-isolating in between shifts. 
  • To help alleviate the need for diapers during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have partnered with the Hawaii Diaper Bank to help distribute diapers and essentials to those in need. 
  • 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, delivering it to quarantined residents, and is providing meals to seniors and shut-ins. 
  • 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.
  • The Salvation Army is supporting frontline workers by offering childcare services. 

  • 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. 
  • The Salvation Army has launched an emotional and spiritual support hotline that connects callers to pastors and other emotional care personnel who provide a listening ear, and if requested, spiritual guidance and prayer support. The hotline also helps the Army determine areas with additional needs. 
  • Emergency Disaster Services is also sharing its support plan for mass care with the emergency management departments in Cook, DuPage, McHenry, and Lake counties, at the counties’ request. 
  • The organization has also been supporting the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communication, Cook County Emergency Operations Center, and 311 dispatchers with food and hydration. 
  • The Salvation Army is prepared to offer long-term support to affected individuals as needed. This includes access to emergency assistance, such as funds to offset the cost of rent and utilities, for people who suffer financial hardship, including lost wages or employment due to COVID-19. Those in need of financial assistance and other support can call 773-205-3520. 
  • Managing vulnerable population pop-up shelters with the City of Chicago. 
  • Purchasing food for additional community food boxes.  
  • Distributing cots, blankets, and mats to partner organizations.  
  • The City of Chicago is partnering with The Salvation Army to host overflow shelters.
  • The Salvation Army is using mobile markets to provide food and resources to anyone in need.

Chicago: Emotional Spiritual Care Hotline 1-877-740-8829

  • 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.
  • The Salvation Army's Indiana Division is getting help with their Coronavirus response from the Lilly Endowment. The organization announced a $5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc., which they say will support The Salvation Army's immediate response to COVID-19 as well as their long-term service to Hoosiers. The grant will also help with the "next phase of need," including future layoffs and job losses, food shortages and child care needs for Hoosiers. 
  • The Salvation Army has established a ‘Compassion Hotline’ call-in center to provide emotional and spiritual care for those in the community who need to talk, share and ask questions. The hotline is open from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. seven days a week at 616-742-9199. Salvation Army spokespersons will be available for virtual (Skype, Zoom, etc.) interviews as well. 
  • We teamed up with Midwest Food Bank to pack and distribute 10,000 food boxes at Lucas Oil Stadium for families in need. 
  • With youth and family nights temporarily on hold, the Corps scouting programs are unable to meet to complete their typical character-building activities. Instead, we are providing character building packets to families involved in our youth programs and posting weekly troop challenges for families to complete together. We are also encouraging families to participate in fun events like in-home cupcake wars, where kids make and decorate cupcakes and submit their photos online!  

Emotional and spiritual care hotline: (616) 742-9199

  • 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.
  • We are providing food to first responders. 
  • We are partnering with local businesses to offer free lawn services to senior citizens. 
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • The Salvation Army has launched an emotional and spiritual care hotline that’s available 24/7. If you need help coping, have prayer requests, or just need a comforting ear to listen, please call 816-968-0497 to be connected with a trained Salvation Army chaplain. 

Emotional and spiritual care hotline: 816-968-0497

  • 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.
  • We have expanded our shelter in Louisville to include a Healthy Day Shelter. 
  • We’ve transformed our Christmas Angel Tree warehouse to serve as a 100-bed isolation and quarantine shelter for those without their own home or have tested positive for COVID-19 and need a place to recover. 
  • 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.
  • We continue to provide assistance during COVID-19 while responding to severe weather. We are offering meals, snacks, and drinks to first responders and residents in neighborhoods affected by Easter Sunday’s tornadoes.
  • Supporting Walmart COVID-19 testing sites. 
  • Participating in daily state emergency management, mass care and public health coordination calls. 
  • The Salvation Army has teamed up with local groups to produce PPE for front-line healthcare workers through the Sewing Safe Project. A local corps recovery center is participating in cutting donated fabric that volunteers use to sew hospital gowns. They have created over 500 gowns.  
  • 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.
  • The Salvation Army has established a COVID-19 relief hub for our large-scale effort to deliver 10,000 meals a day to vulnerable seniors in Baltimore. 
  • The Salvation Army has launched a program to bring 10,000 meals to the doorsteps of physically- or medically-homebound seniors amid the Coronavirus pandemic. The program is a collaboration between the Salvation Army, the Ravens, the Orioles, Rouge Catering and dozens of volunteers. 
 
  • 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.
  • The Massachusetts Division is working with Disaster Chaplains Assoc. to support emotional and spiritual care hotline across the state. 
  • The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services Department is actively coordinating with state and local leads to determine gap feeding needs for vulnerable populations. Seven of our Salvation Army facilities are activated as hubs for assembling disaster food boxes to distribute across the Commonwealth. 
  • The Salvation Army has been asked to support the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency's Feeding Task Force and is the lead on working to provide feeding to State Emergency Housing programs. 
  • The Salvation Army is supporting cities with food boxes for distribution with the National Guard’s support. 

  • 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.
  • A partnership between the City of Detroit, The Salvation Army, Wayne State University and more will help test the city’s homeless population for potential cases of the COVID-19 virus. Tests will take place at Salvation Army facilities in the city with support being provided by WSU, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and its foundation partner, the DMC Foundation. The tests are available to any person currently in the city’s homeless shelter system. 
  • The Salvation Army has established a ‘Compassion Hotline’ call-in center to provide emotional and spiritual care for those in the community who need to talk, share and ask questions. The hotline is open from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. seven days a week at 616-742-9199. Salvation Army spokespersons will be available for virtual (Skype, Zoom, etc.) interviews as well. 
  • We provided a wide variety of online Spring Break activities for children who planned to spend spring break at the Kroc Center but are instead stuck at home due to COVID-19. 

Emotional and spiritual care hotline: (616) 742-9199

  • 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.
  • We continue to provide assistance during COVID-19 while responding to severe weather. We are providing mobile feeding units for survivors of Easter Sunday’s tornadoes. 
  • Commands, Corps and Service Centers continue to provide services such as food pantry distribution, utility and rent assistance, homeless shelter operations and some to-go-meals and mobile food service delivery to general population. 
  • 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.
  • The Salvation Army has launched an emotional and spiritual care hotline that’s available 24/7. If you need help coping, have prayer requests, or just need a comforting ear to listen, please call 816-968-0497 to be connected with a trained Salvation Army chaplain.  
  • We are providing lodging to house those who are homeless and have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Emotional and spiritual care hotline: (816) 968-0497

  • 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.
  • Volunteer food delivery
  • 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.
  • The Salvation Army is distributing activity packs provided by The Youth and Education Department to parents seeking educational material for their school children. Using a drive-through set-up, activity packs will be distributed from 4-6 p.m., Wednesdays –Thursdays (while supplies last). Each week, there will be new packs with different activities – packs are according to grade level (PK-K, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6). 
  • The Salvation Army and Black Hills Energy offer their program, HeatShare, to Nebraska residents who need assistance paying their utility bills due to the pandemic or other causes. HeatShare is offered at most Salvation Army offices in Nebraska outside of Douglas County. 
  • We continue to assist in the Food Bank’s Mobile BackPack program where crews of Salvation Army staff and volunteers distribute food on a drive-thru basis. We are proud to be part of a team that is providing 26,000 meals per week to food-insecure children in the Omaha metro area. 

  • 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.
  • The Salvation Army of Northern Nevada will continue to operate its residential homeless, homeless prevention, transitional living and adult rehabilitation centers, while adhering to federal, state and local social distancing guidelines. 
  • The Salvation Army of Southern Nevada received a donation of 50 cots from the Red Cross that will allow the Army to shelter an additional 20 women and 30 men. 
  • We are providing thousands of pandemic kits for the homeless, which include items like face masks, gloves, facial wipes, and sanitizer. 
  • In addition to COVID-19 relief, we are providing heat relief with daytime cooling stations when extreme heat warnings are issued. 
  • 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.
  • All offices will remain open for emergency services by appointment to ensure safety and social distancing as per the CDC and local officials.
  • Providing food boxes and to-go meals. Delivering meals to local seniors. 
  • 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.
  • Food boxes and to-go meals provided across the state. 
  • 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 is providing food support for workers at Wal-Mart COVID-19 testing sites. 
  • To lift spirits throughout the community, The Salvation Army together with local car clubs and community members are celebrating the young and young at heart with drive-by birthday shout outs. In the last month, we’ve planned 40 drive-by birthday parades and demand keeps increasing. 
  • Providing food boxes to households and seniors in partnership with Midwest Food Bank and local partners and Salvation Army teams.
  • 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.
  • 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, in partnership with the Dairy Farmers of America and the Dairy Farmers Association Northeast, is trying to fill a gap, distributing 9,000 gallons of milk that would otherwise go unused. 
  • The Salvation Army offers weekly Sunday school for children. 

New York Emotional Spiritual Care Hotline: (347) 395-3943

  • 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 providing our communities with non-perishable food boxes, hygiene kits, and supporting those suffering from homelessness with the supplies they need. This includes thousands of students who are struggling to find their next meal while school is out.
  • We are delivering food boxes to those who tested positive and those in quarantine.
  • We have increased cleaning procedures.
  • We are providing food and hydration to frontline workers who are manning the state’s drive-through COVID-19 testing stations. 

  • Summer camp facilities being used by first responders, medical professionals, and the national guard. 
  • Ashland Kroc delivering food boxes to local seniors. 
  • Cambridge Corps producing “boredom bags” for children out of school containing educational activities. 
  • Catherine Booth Senior Residence has in place a door to door food box delivery for their 250 facility residents.  
  • Hosting meal distributions for school district feeding operations. 
  • We’re supporting local school districts with neighborhood meals and serving as a distribution site for local school districts to serve children out of school. 
  • 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. 
  • Conducting phone interviews when possible for social services to limit exposure to staff and clients.
  • Food box delivery has been transitioned to drive-thru for safety.  Where supplies are available, activity kits are being offered for children.
  • Where meals are offered, all are being distributed via a grab-n-go for safety.
  • Where available, food boxes and/or meals are being delivered to seniors and the homebound.
  • Shelters throughout the state are being thoroughly cleaned and are adhering to CDC recommended guidelines for social distancing. 
  • 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 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 
  • The Salem, Oregon, Kroc Corps Community Center has hired Boys and Girls Club staff in order to increase service hours at the Kroc Center. 
 
  • 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.
  • Our shelters are open and operating with scrupulous hygiene practices and social distancing in place. In addition to receiving warmth and a place to sleep, residents in our shelters continue to receive three meals a day and snacks. 
  • The Salvation Army is caring for healthcare workers by providing them with meals and cotton fabric to cover N-95 masks. 
  • The Salvation Army’s “Love in a Backpack” program is benefiting 1,500 children a week in Washington County. Bread, oatmeal, and granola bars are just a sampling of what families are receiving from the Army at 10 pick-up locations in four school districts. The program typically helps families get through the weekend, but several school districts asked the Salvation Army for help feeding during the week. Along with the backpacks, the children are receiving kites to play with. 
  • We are staffing Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia. 
  • In collaboration with Operation BBQ Relief, we will distribute 180,000 boxes of freshly prepared and pre-packaged meals to individuals, seniors and families in need across the state each week. The boxes provide enough food for four days for a family of four.
  • All public programming paused.
  • Grocery distribution from local service centers 
  • All Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma disaster relief case management being conducted via telephone.
  • 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.
  • The Salvation Army is supporting state EOC operations.  
  • We are assembling and distributing food boxes for those in need.  
  • Providing meals for state-run pop-up shelters. 
  • 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.
  • We continue to provide assistance during COVID-19 while responding to severe weather. The Salvation Army is providing food and hydration to residents impacted by Easter Sunday’s tornadoes. 
  • Pickup food options available at local food pantries, and meals-to-go needs are up 50%. 
  • Maintaining readiness to assist and serve people of their community. 
  • Increased education, cleaning, and disinfection efforts at all facilities, posting flyers and providing adequate supplies to staff, residents, and guests. 
  • Kroc Center in Memphis has closed. 
  • Collaborating with state and local organizations for food distribution to those in need. 
  • We continue to provide assistance during COVID-19 while responding to severe weather. We are distributing blankets, food, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care to neighborhoods affected by Easter Sunday’s tornadoes.  
  • We are offering free childcare for first responders and healthcare workers. 
  • We are providing hot meals to 15 homeless encampments in Nashville daily. In addition to hot meals and supplies, we are providing guidance on CDC guidelines to homeless encampments as well.   
 
  • 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 partnering with the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) to provide transportation of essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to cities throughout the state. Deliveries will be made to strategic locations where hospitals and other essential services will collect vital emergency equipment as they continue to deal with the increased demands caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  
  • The Salvation Army of North Texas is operating 13 drive-through grocery service locations to support families struggling with lost wages due to COVID-19. We are also deploying case managers to deliver food to senior citizens, veterans and individuals in permanent supportive housing.   
  • 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.
  • We are working to meet the feeding and sheltering assistance gaps that are developing in communities.

  • 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’s shelter services have expanded in Bremerton, Tacoma, Everett, and Seattle. 
  • 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 Chaplain Support Line, 888-651-7294 (SAWI), will be available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day and will be manned by trained Salvation Army chaplains. The line, which launched at 9 a.m. on Monday, April 6, will take calls not just during the COVID crisis, but will continue to be a place for people to call during any kind of disaster, 365 days a year. 
  • Our “Helping Hands for Healthcare Heroes” initiative provides food and assistance to our healthcare workers. 
  • 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.

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Find help during this health crisis

 

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.

Find a Salvation Army Near Me

 

 

Coronavirus Covid-19: How you can help

 

The essential services that we provide on a year-round basis – homeless shelters, food pantries, disaster relief, veteran’s services and others – are for the benefit of our country’s most vulnerable people. Because of a lack of information and access to good hygiene, homeless families and those living in poverty have been hit especially hard by the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

We know concerned Americans are looking for ways to help during this crisis. The Salvation Army will continue to open our arms, hearts, and doors to those who need us, but our homeless shelters and food pantries are quickly reaching capacity. We are at work finding alternatives and solutions to this reality, like mobile food service and deliveries to families in need who are sheltering in place.

Please consider helping us help your neighbors in need during this crisis. You can rest assured that your donation will stay in your own area.
 

Q: How can I donate money to support Coronavirus COVID-19 relief efforts?

A: 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.

Your donations to The Salvation Army help us serve the most vulnerable members of your community. 
 

Donate Money

Your monetary donations are the best way to help us serve the most vulnerable members of your community.

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Partnerships

Join in meaningful corporate partnerships to help The Salvation Army do the most good during this crisis.

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Become a Fundraiser

Create your own fundraiser to  provide help to those in need in your community.
 

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Donate Monthly

Ongoing revenue from recurring gifts empowers The Salvation Army to expand our services further and faster.

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Q: Are The Salvation Army thrift stores open for me to donate clothes and household items?

A: Some of our thrift stores have reopened and are accepting clothing and household goods. Please visit our Thrift Stores locator to find your nearest drop-off location or to schedule a pickup where available. 
 

Q: How can I mobilize others from my computer?

Create your own fundraiser to provide hope to those in need in your community. 
 

Q: Can I make a recurring gift?

A: Yes. The assurance of ongoing revenue from recurring gifts empowers The Salvation Army to expand our services further and faster. 
 

Q: Can I donate food?

A: Yes. Local Salvation Army facilities are in need of the following in-kind items:

    • non-perishable food
    • baby supplies
    • hygiene products
    • cleaning and sanitizing items
    • paper products

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

Q: Can I volunteer my time to the cause?

A: In some locations, yes. Please check with your local Salvation Army to see if there are any volunteer opportunities if you would like benefit your community that way.


 Thank you to our 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.

 

COJC
NFL Foundation
Sinclair Broadcast Group
AT&T
Toyota Foundation
Toyota
TLMODA
UPS
UPS
Map International
Budweiser
Jasco
Acuity
Airlink
NABRA
Crunchy Rollers
Midwest Food Bank
Hanes
sysco
US Foods
Ebay for Charity

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 media queries, please contact:

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

 

Interested in a national corporate partnership?

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For other inquiries, contact your local Salvation Army:

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The Salvation Army Mission Statement

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.


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