By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – Over the past year, the Salvation Army food pantry provided food for those in need through a drive-thru format due to COVID-19; now, the Salvation Army is looking to bring people back to in-person pick-up.
“(We’re) looking forward to having folks being able to return to the building into like our food pantry, so we are making some changes there,” Salvation Army Major Dan Leisher told WJBC’s, Scott Miller. “We are going to try to maintain, you know, a limited number, so things are by appointment; so there’s a limited number of people in the food pantry themselves.”
Currently, the Salvation Army food pantry located at 611 W. Washington Street is packing food and handing prepackaged bags out. Major Leisher said allowing patrons into the building would allow them to choose the food they want.
“We’re not there yet, but probably by May, we will be doing this, and folks can make a section of food that they want…This will return to some client choice. But of course, safety protocols, we are going to encourage mask-wearing. I think we will continue that for quite a while. And of course, hand sanitizer and those kinds of things and social distancing are all going to play in that.”
Leisher said he hopes the Salvation Army can return to indoor pick-up May while also continuing some drive-thru services.
“It has changed everything about the services that we offer, but we we’re still able to press through and provide services.”
Donations can be made to the Salvation Army building located at 611 W. Washington Street in Bloomington.
Blake Haas can be reached at Blake.Haas@Cumulus.com.
