The Salvation Army San Bernardino Received 20 Tons of Food For Its Summer Food Program
By Carl Dameron
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Donates 20 Tons of Food to The Salvation Army
REDLANDS CALIF. The San Bernardino Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints has donated a semi-truck full of nonperishable food to The Salvation Army San Bernardino Citadel summer food program. Nearly 40,000 pounds of canned and packaged foods arrived at The Salvation Army warehouse Thursday morning, July 6.
Lonnie Gallaher, Stake Communication Director for the Church in San Bernardino, said, “We are grateful to be able to support the good work the Salvation Army has been doing in the community for years. Many members of our Church serve as Salvation Army volunteers at the Food Distribution site. When we found out from one of them, that the food program needed a boost, we were ready to help,” said Gallaher.
Major Isaias Braga, Corps Officer of The Salvation Army San Bernardino/Redlands Corp, said, “The Salvation Army is privileged to receive a substantial food donation from the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints San Bernardino Stake. This partnership is essential for the fulfillment of The Salvation Army's mission in our region.”
The partnership between the two churches strengthened noticeably two years ago, when The Church of Jesus Christ members helped out with The Salvation Army’s annual toy drive.
“The Bishops’ Central Storehouse in Salt Lake City over-produces nonperishable food as part of our ongoing effort to be prepared for any emergency. Canned fruits and vegetables, canned meats, packaged cereals, pastas and grains...everything is centrally processed and ready to meet any need that may arise,” said Gallaher.
Photo caption: The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints Photographer is Deanie Gallaher, Sam Valdez, President Matthew Johnson of San Bernardino The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, Salvation Army Major Adelma Braga, Major Isais Braga, Lonnie Gallaher, Stake Communication Director for the Church in San Bernardino, Salvation Army officer Mike Delgado. In front of food donated by the church to serve the hungry in the San Bernardino area.
The Salvation Army’s Business Administrator, Steve Pinckney, said “Our partnership with the The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints has been a blessing. The Church of Jesus Christ, like our own, is dedicated to humanitarian needs, including feeding the hungry.”
The Salvation Army food distribution program can provide a healthy meal for a hungry neighbor for just $1.28. “We can serve meals to 140 families a week,” says Pinckney, “and with an average of four people per family, the total is over 2,200 meals a month.”
The San Bernardino Stake of the Church includes most of the City of San Bernardino, Crestline, Running Springs, Lake Arrowhead and a sizable portion of the City of Highland. This dovetails with The Salvation Army’s San Bernardino Corps, making the partnership a natural fit.
Matthew Johnson, President of the San Bernardino Stake, said, “We, as a church, strive to follow the admonition of the Savior Jesus Christ, to feed the hungry, offer drink to the thirsty, take in a stranger, to clothe the naked and to visit those who are sick and afflicted. Through the donations of Church members, we are able to offer assistance to those in need.
“We believe in providing assistance with no regard to race, religious affiliation or nationality. We strive to work with other organizations, faith and community based, to offer relief and support in helping God's children to meet basic needs as they strive to become self-reliant.”
Major Isaias Braga, Corps Officer of The Salvation Army San Bernardino/Redlands Corp, said, “The Salvation Army is privileged to receive a substantial food donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints San Bernardino Stake. This partnership is essential for the fulfillment of the Salvation Army mission in our region.
This initiative reveals the deep concern The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints has for the less privileged of our community, for which we are very grateful. Also, the volunteer support received from the church members is crucial and enables us alleviate hundreds of families that come to us weekly experiencing food insecurity.”
Watch a video with The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints donation of a semi-truck full of nonperishable food to The Salvation Army San Bernardino Citadel summer food program.
For more information call (909) 792-6868. Donations can be made here or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY, specifying that you want your donation applied to the San Bernardino Corps in California.