Salvation Army asks for help to replenish food pantry

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

The Springfield Salvation Army is partnering with Walmart, 200 S. Tuttle Rd., on Saturday to replenish the agency’s food pantry.

The food pantry is really low, according to Ryan Ray, development director at the Springfield Salvation Army.

“When our pantry gets as low as it is now, we’ve got to spring into action and replenish,” Ray said. “A lot of people come through our doors weekly.”

Hungry families and individuals that come to the food pantry receive a bag of groceries with three days worth of meals.

Recently, a “choice pantry” has been implemented to allow families and individuals to choose what foods they would like. Fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, breads, meats, and milk are included in the “choice pantry.”

“This food drive is very critical for us, we help a lot of families, a lot of individuals, who are hungry,” Ray said.

Salvation Army volunteers will be at both sets of front doors at the Tuttle Road Walmart, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, handing out food item wish lists and accepting donations.

The lists will contain specific items the Salvation Army needs like peanut butter, spam/Vienna sausage, pop-top ravioli, pasta, rice, crackers, granola bars, bottles of water, and juice boxes.

This is not the first Walmart-partnered food drive.

Last year, the Salvation Army received nearly 30 barrels of food from the community.

“We’re looking forward to the community rallying behind this,” Ray said. “We need you.”

The Salvation Army was established in 1865. They have been supporting those in need for 130 years in the United States.

For more information about the food drive, contact the Springfield Salvation Army at 937-322-3434.

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