Salvation Army's meal program expands during COVID-19 crisis

A local middle school group, 'The Girls of Promise,' made a donation to the local Salvation Army which is seeing increased need during the new coronavirus quarantine.

Jenny Roodzant, social services coordinator at the Marysville Salvation Army, said their meals program has doubled over the last couple of weeks.

"We're definitely in need of food, because I don't want to stop the meals," she said.

"We will continue to give our support, we're just hoping for more community support," said Roodzant.

Typically the majority of people served are homeless individuals, but now the program is attracting many who have found themselves without income because of COVID-19, the coronavirus.

"We've had more seniors and families come in," said Roodzant.

She added that all are welcome to come down for the meals. "This is for seniors, families or anyone in need," she said.

One local group, the Girls of Promise, have helped with what they have. The club is a partnership between the Marysville YMCA and the Marysville Soroptimist Club and helps Marysville middle-school girls participate in their town.

"We talk about how to give back to the community," said Renae James, a member of the Soroptimist Club.

"The one thing that often comes back to is helping the needy and helping the homeless, and that is something that they wanted to do," she said.

The girls of the club had secured a $250 grant from the local Soroptimists earlier this year.

"We were just gearing up to use those funds when the coronavirus really began happening here," said James.

James helped to use the funds to assist the Salvation Army for their meals.

"We know what their wishes were, and with the grant it was really 'use it or lose it,'" she said.

The Salvation Army has had to close their office building but is still providing meals in to-go boxes from out in the back of the building.

There are no sit-down lunches for individuals to encourage the social distancing guidelines of the Snohomish Health District.

"And it's the same food we've always provided," said Roodzant, with the local Salvation Army providing a hot meal as part of the program.

The local organization has suspended their program to provide vouchers to provide utility assistance as of March 22.

Many cities, including Marysville, have pledged not to shut off utility service while the coronavirus quarantine is in effect.

The need for the utility vouchers was high , said Roodzant, and the organization did provide many to local families.

"I did seven of those in one day, so there's been a huge increase in the need," she said.

As the cold weather shelter has closed for the season, the meal program is the main service that the Salvation Army can provide during the quarantine, said Roodzant.

She said she doesn't need volunteers, although any food or cash donations to continue providing meals would be appreciated.

"All donations are helpful," she said. "If there are churches or people who want to help prepare food that is also welcome."

The program isn't running out of space to store food, so any group that can help safely prepare some hot food to serve is welcome, said Roodzant.

Those with spare supplies, such as soup bowls or plastic utensils, could also help the program by making a donation.

The meal service in Marysville is currently scheduled for Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and Sundays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the back of the Salvation Army's Marysville office at 1108 State Ave., Marysville.

The meal program is free and does not require any registration.