INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — The Salvation Army is partnering with Midwest Food Bank to pack an additional 5,000 boxes of food to help Hoosiers in need.
In April, volunteers helped fill 10,000 food boxes at Lucus Oil Stadium.
The stadium is being used as a food warehouse and food box packing center during this pandemic.
Lt. Vinel Lee with the Salvation Army said they are doing this again because of the tremendous request they continue to get from food pantries across the state that still need the immediate help.
"I think it's absolutely been astonishing to see the growing need. I mean this is really what we are, what we are responding to is a large economic disaster, of course. This is a global pandemic caused by by a virus but for us," Lt.Lee said. "What we're seeing is the effects of the economic side of this so we have individuals who, for the first time in their life are going without a paycheck and they're having to navigate what it's like to go to food pantries and to ask for help and so because of that, we were having to meet means in a whole different capacity and that's been really for many of our salvation army units, absolutely astonishing."
Lt. Lee said he thinks the next phase to helping Hoosiers look different.
"As the stay at home order is lifted and life begins to find a new rhythm, we'll see that the need for food transitions into a need for financial assistance to help cover rent and utilities to help, perhaps supplement some of their own grocery bills," he said. "So we imagine that there will still be a need, but that need is going to transition into what we would consider sort of long term recovery of this disaster. Now of course in some counties. Food is going to continue to be an ongoing need, and we'll respond to both of those as it's appropriate."
Right now, the Salvation Army does not need volunteers for the food box distribution Tuesday, they already have those. But if you would like to make a financial donation, or find out how you can volunteer, visit their website for all the information.