The Salvation Army Needs You Now!

The Salvation Army Service Center has been the primary soup kitchen in Columbia County for years, serving  lunches five days a week. Since the

coronavirus epidemic, the demand has doubled. Typically, 35 lunches was a busy day. Now the cooks are serving nearly 90 people during every lunchtime. It also provides a food pantry three days a week. 

The Service Center has taken unprecedented measures to keep its doors open and continue to serve those in need, while at the same time ramping up efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, especially among the homeless and other vulnerable populations.

Hot lunches are still served to anyone in need from 11:30am- 12:30pm at 40 South 3rdStreet in Hudson, but they are now boxed, bagged, and left for individuals to pick up.  The pickup area is spread out so the clients are safely spaced.   The Salvation Army will continue to have a food pantry but will be pre-filling bags with food, and pleased on outside tables The bags will be available Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:00am to 10:00am. The families can pick up bags on an outside table one at a time and avoid waiting in line next to each other. 

Volunteers also deliver food to the elderly and people with compromised immune systems who are hesitant to go to the grocery store or our food pantry because of their high risk for infection by the corona virus.   

The Salvation Army Service Center is a resource to all Columbia County residents. If they can’t help with a specific need they refer the client to another agency that can.  Our mission is to help the underserved and the people who need it the most.  For example, we are now working with the County Social Services to deliver food to the motels that serve the homeless.

The Center now face shortages and needs additional food and supplies to meet this sudden increase in demand. The stockpiles provided by local supermarkets and the Regional Food Bank are insufficient. Traditionally, its fundraising efforts are in the winter holiday season, but they confront the need to raise more money now.

Please help.  You can donate online at https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/give/164006/#!/donation/checkout 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.