Maplewood Salvation Army major: food pantry demand hasn’t leveled off

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Maplewood Salvation Army Major Kris Wood stands in the partially empty food pantry.
Maplewood Salvation Army Major Kris Wood stands in the partially empty food pantry.
Maplewood Salvation Army Major Kris Wood stands in the partially empty food pantry.

Maplewood Salvation Army Major Kris Wood said workers in the Salvation Army count their years in Christmases. This will be his 30th. He’s been the major in Maplewood for 20.

This Christmas, Wood is again looking for bell ringers. The Maplewood Salvation Army uses the money for food throughout the year.

The food pantry is open every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wood said if people need food, it means they probably chose to pay their electric bill or their rent. “We’ll say to them, do you have any shutoff notices? We’re able to help them get out of that crisis mode.”

“I would say the last five years, here, the numbers have increased every month, and we haven’t seen it level off yet,” he said. “That’s kind of scary, but we’ve been able to meet that need, we haven’t turned anybody away.”

Wood said they have donated money to shop at Aldi or Shop n Save, where they look for specials.

“Last year we were looking for either a full chicken or a ham for Thanksgiving—a lot of our families can’t cook a full size turkey,” he said. “The manager called us back and said, we’ve got them. The people just couldn’t believe they were getting that from the pantry.”

He said MRH elementary donates boxed food, because they know they get a lot of canned food.

“Kids know what they like to eat, and that’s what they bring in. A lot of parents will come in and say, ‘you have Lucky Charms?’ That day we did because some kids from the school brought it in.”

“We want people to feel like there is dignity, we give them respect, we don’t ask a lot of questions. They have a need; we’re going to help them,” he said. “Whatever they’re doing in their life is insignificant if they’re hungry.”

Wood spoke about a senior citizen volunteer named Helen.

“Helen is a little tiny quiet woman, she makes everybody feel comfortable, and she has a smile for everybody, and she always says to people, ‘We have coffee,’ and, ‘Is there anything I can do to help you?’ And if there’s children she always talks to children, and she just has this calming effect. She’s one of those quiet people who makes a huge difference in people’s lives.”

3 COMMENTS

  1. Can the Maplewood Salvation Army provide a list of items that they always need more of? Also, can you drop it off anytime that the building is open or are there particular times for drop off?

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