Salvation Army Food Bank seeking necessities
The Salvation Army church in Lindsay operates a food bank on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am – 12 pm and 1 pm – 3 pm. According to a media release, while they are able to comfortably accommodate 24 appointments each day for food specifically, they often serve more as the need continues to increase.
Individuals can access this food bank once a month and are given a specific number of points based on family size and can ‘shop’ at the food bank with their points. The Salvation Army says that this aims to give clients more autonomy and a sense of dignity by allowing them to choose items their family will eat based on their individual diets and needs.
Outside of the holiday season, Salvation Army does not do any active fundraising, and the food that they provide in the food bank is not from the Kawartha Lakes Food Source. “Each month we serve over 250 individuals at the food bank. Of these 250 individuals we see more than 70 children each month, and between 10 to 25 seniors,” a representative explained.
A media release listed the following as ongoing needs for the food bank:
- Poise Pads (for women)
- Depends (specifically medium/Large, for both men and women)
- Dish Soap
- Laundry Soap
- Baby Wipes
- Soup
- Crackers (of any kind)
- Canned Fruit
- Canned Meat
- Canned Pasta
- Granola Bars
- Peanut Butter
- Jam
- Cat Food
- Cereal
- Pasta Sauce
- Cookies
- Coffee (Perk and Instant)
- Coffee Whitener
- Sugar
Salvation Army also offers an emergency clothing, household goods and furniture voucher program for individuals who have been the victims of a house fire, those facing homelessness or individuals that are precariously housed. These vouchers are available for use in the Thrift Store on food bank days.
Salvation Army also recently started a Voicemail Program. For $5 every month, individuals can have access to a confidential voicemail. This voicemail can be accessed from any touch tone phone, making it easier for individuals to receive messages from doctors, social services, job opportunities, family and friends. This still allows them to have access to a phone number, without the associated cost.
On the second Tuesday of every month from September to June, there is a Messy (Community) Church program offered at the Salvation Army Community Church (51 Eglington St). Messy Church begins at 5:30pm with activities for children and tea/coffee for adults, followed by dinner and ending the evening with a story and song for both children and adults.
Every summer the Salvation Army sends between 15 and 20 children, aged 6 – 15, to a one week overnight camp. They are able to provide a subsidy to children that would otherwise be unable to attend camp. This year the camp runs from August 5th – 10th. Younger children attend camp at Jackson’s Point, and older children travel to Utterson near Huntsville.
The Thrift Store is open Monday – Friday 9:30 am to 4 pm and Saturdays 9 am to 2 pm.
