Salvation Army needs extra donations to help needy during COVID-19 Pandemic

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR

The COVID-19 health crisis has drastically interrupted daily life—including the extension of the shelter-in-place—and folks already facing hunger and homelessness are feeling the worst of the devastating consequences.

But the Salvation Army’s mission has not changed and they need your help to continue to help those in desperate need by donating money and supplies so they can help ease the burden on individuals and families who were hit hardest by the pandemic, including those now facing unemployment and furloughed wages.

Brenda Gragg is the Program Director for the Toccoa Salvation Army.

Gragg said their main concern during the pandemic is to make sure people have enough to eat.

“We are giving food to anyone who needs it,” she said Monday. “We don’t want to see anyone go hungry.”

Gragg said the food is available for anyone in the Northeast Georgia area, including people in Franklin and Hart counties who need it.  They give out food on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Gragg said they are in need of donations, however, not only of money but also certain household items to give out to families.

“We get our food from the North Georgia Food Shelter at a good price, but we can’t get and what we need are diapers and toiletries like shampoo, toothpaste, etc. We can’t get those from them,” she said.

If you want to make a physical donation to the Salvation Army such as diapers or toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, or a monetary donation you can bring it to the Toccoa Salvation Army on Franklin St. Monday through Thursday from 9a to 4p.