Salvation Army's food assistance response hits record numbers

The Salvation Army has given out more assistance during the COVID crisis than in the last three typhoons combined Major Tom Stambaugh says

 

the nonprofit organization has hit record numbers during the coronavirus pandemic, helping almost 400 families with food assistance.

And he says they're expecting it to get worse as many islanders who were expecting federal stimulus checks by now were told by the governor federal assistance is still weeks away.

He told KUAM News on today's episode of Containing COVID, "The need for social services and these meals hat have been extended into the summer even with GDOE helping out with the Grab-N-Go meals program is going to be extremely helpful for a lot of families and I think as long as people know there are services out there to reach out to, it would give them some comfort even while they're waiting for their mailboxes to be filled with checks."

Stambaugh commended the Guam Department of Education for Grab-N-Go, which has put a half-million meals out for the islands struggling and hungry. But when we asked him if anyone from the Governor's Office had offered the Salvation Army any help at all, this was his answer:

"Not at this point. No. No."

Due to the pandemic, assistance is being given out by appointment only. This is also to adhere to social distancing orders. The organization has also increased its food bank staff to deal with the increased need for assistance. Families and individuals are given food bags with an estimated value of $60.

"We're depleting a lot of that, so a lot of the wholesale vendors out there have been generous in donating those things we can always use more of - the canned food items, from vegetables to fruits to meat to a variety of things that make a meal for a family, pasta, pasta sauces, mac-&-cheese for the kids, peanut butter, anything we can use to fill the food bags," he said.

Stambaugh tells KUAM News that the organization has provided food assistance to 340 families, totaling 1,589 individuals. On average before the COVID crisis, he says they help 30 families a month.

He adds that the Salvation Army is seeing new faces as middle income families who don't qualify for the food stamps the governor has told them to apply for make their way to where they can get the help they need right now.

"Hardworking people are the ones who support the Salvation Army and so we appreciate their support over the years. And at this period of time where they're now on that receiving end of that, we just want to be consistent with our appointments in helping them out the best that we can," he shared.

You can call 477-9855 to make donations or receive assistance.