BIG SPRING, TX — The local Salvation Army in Big Spring often does what it can to support the needs of the community with its local food pantry. They are able to stock it with items from the West Texas Food Bank and canned food and non-perishable items that are donated from the community.
Due to an increase in the number of families served by their food pantry program, it’s been difficult to keep their shelves stocked. Last August the Salvation Army in Big Spring served 65 families. This August they served 132 families. Tina Flores, Bookkeeper/HR for the organization, attributes the increase to inflation and the recent loss of a local food bank.
“It’s been a little difficult,” said Flores. “We normally try to give about $70 value of food to them to help them through the month for the pantry because we allow them to come and visit us once a month. We now are doing maybe $35, [or] $40 worth of value because we don’t have it on our shelves we don’t have the canned goods that we normally do instead of being able to give them two corns and three green beans we’re having to do one and one so it’s really made a huge difference on what we’re able to offer.”
The only relief the organization has is the perishable items that they are able to obtain through Feeding America by working with Walmart.
“We’ve been able to pick that up but the items are perishable so we can only maintain them for 3 to 5 days because of space and refrigerated space mainly and we don’t have the ability to keep them longer than that without spoiling them,” said Flores.
She told KBest News they can usually count on the community to help them restock shelves during the holiday season with canned food drives that are held in the schools and around the community. The downside to that is they can’t collect those donations until December and help is needed now.
The community is urged to donate non-perishable items or monetary donations to help them get through the holiday season when they can collect the donation barrels.
Canned goods can be taken to the Salvation Army in Big Spring, located at 811 W. 5th St. They are open Tuesday, Tuesday Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 3, and are closed during the lunch hour. Monetary donations can also be dropped off or sent to PO Box 1248, Big Spring, TX 79721.
For information on coordinating a food drive, contact the Salvation Army office in Big Spring at 432-267-8239.
Major Dean Moretz, Commanding Officer of the Salvation Army of Big Spring, told KBest News that they are in the business of helping people, but it depends on the community how much help they can give to people in need.
“I want to thank everybody that has helped us in the past and look forward to their help now and throughout Christmas efforts,” said Major Moretez.
(Courtesy photos)
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