The Salvation Army Provides Thanksgiving Meals to Seniors in Need
Anchorage, AK – Despite the pandemic, The Salvation Army’s Older Alaskans Program will continue its tradition of delivering meals to seniors and individuals in need this Thursday, November 26, 2020, on Thanksgiving Day. This year, The Salvation Army expects to deliver about 525 Thanksgiving meals to the homes of individuals in need in addition to McKinnell House family shelter residents. This is over 100 meals more than the 400 meals delivered on Thanksgiving Day last year.
On Thanksgiving Day, volunteers will help prep meals for delivery, run meals to delivery drivers and drop off meals to the homes of those who have signed up to receive a meal. The Thanksgiving meals provided will consist of traditional fixings such as turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pie and a roll. Over 30 turkeys amounting to about 500 pounds of meat will be cooked by Older Alaskans Program kitchen staff for the special day.
“Since changes were made to our program due to COVID-19 precautions, we have been delivering about 550 meals daily to the homes of seniors and individuals with disabilities in the Anchorage area,” said Uwe Schaetze, The Salvation Army Older Alaskans Program Manager. “In October, our program participants confirmed that they would like a Thanksgiving meal delivered. We also provide meals to anyone else who requests them ahead of time. We don’t want anyone to feel like they’re left behind.”
“The Salvation Army is pleased to be able to deliver Thanksgiving meals to those seniors who need it most, as well as offer a smile and say Happy Thanksgiving,” said Major John Brackenbury, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army in Alaska. “The Older Alaskans Program and events like Thanksgiving Day meal delivery are made possible through tbe generous support of local community partners and donors. We are grateful to all those who come alongside us to help make the holidays a little brighter for everyone.”
The Salvation Army is still in need of volunteers to help prepare meals on Thanksgiving morning. Volunteers will be required to wear PPE and abide by social distancing precautions. To sign-up to help, please visit https://volunteer.usawest.org.
To help The Salvation Army continue Doing The Most Good in Alaska, donate online at alaska.salvationarmy.org or text KETTLES to 91999.
###
The Salvation Army, an evangelic part of the universal Christian church, supports those in need in His name without discrimination, offering spiritual encouragement and basic services to meet the needs of Alaskans in 18 communities. The Salvation Army has been caring for mind, body, spirit and soul of individuals, children and families in Alaska since 1898. In FY2020, The Salvation Army served 298,758 meals, gave 37,750 toys and gifts to kids in need and provided over 8,600 contacts of emotional and spiritual support helping nearly 77,000 Alaskans statewide. For more information, please visit alaska.salvationarmy.org.