The Salvation Army in Trenton: Mobilizing From the Early Stages of COVID-19

The Trenton community saw the impact of COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic as the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton was used as a quarantine facility for travelers returning from virus-stricken areas.

The small community came together to support those in need, and The Salvation Army has continued serving as an important resource for those who are facing difficulties during these uncertain times.

The Salvation Army’s Food Bank and Lunch Program are continuing to operate during their normal hours of Monday through Friday, 9am – 1pm, with changes to how the services are delivered in accordance with public health guidelines.

The lunch program, which has traditionally been a hot meal, is now being served as a bagged lunch. Each bagged lunch. Each bagged lunch includes: a cup of soup, sandwiches, breakfast bars, chips, proteins, juice, fruits and more.

The Salvation Army’s Officer in Trenton, Captain Rob Hardy explains, “The bagged lunches are a full meal; we are making sure that there is enough to sustain someone for a longer period of time.”.

In addition to the daily lunch program, The Salvation Army in Trenton is also operating their Food Bank by scheduled appointments.

When a community member is receiving a packed food hamper from The Salvation Army, it will be placed by the door, where it can be picked up without making direct physical contact with a Salvation Army staff member.

“If there is a person who is elderly and is taking additional precautions against COVID-19, The Salvation Army will bring the pre-made food hampers to their home, connecting with them before leaving the parcel outside their door,” says Captain Rob.

The Trenton community has continued to support The Salvation Army’s work through donating their time, monetary donations, and through the donation of food bank supplies.

During the initial stages of COVID-19, CFB Trenton was used as a quarantine facility for Canadians returning from Wuhan, China. Once the 14-day quarantine was completed, CFB Trenton donated the remaining materials that had not been used.

“After the quarantine, there were extra items left over, including 50 cases of toilet paper,” says Captain Rob. “We distributed those items to 8 different food banks in the Trenton area to continue supporting local communities.”

If you would like to support the work of The Salvation Army please visit http://www.salvationarmy.ca or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. To contact The Salvation Army in Trenton’s Community and Family Services, please call (613) 392-9905.

By Heather Prystanski