The Salvation Army is an international Christian church, social services organization, and emergency relief agency. In Cambridge, The Salvation Army operates the Cambridge Citadel and Cambridge Community Services, which provides clothing, school supplies, Christmas toys and gifts, and more to individuals and families in need.

“The Salvation Army offers its services to anyone in the community without discrimination,” says Major Danette Woods, the co-executive director at The Salvation Army Cambridge Community Services and pastor at the Cambridge Citadel. “Anyone with a need can come to The Salvation Army and if it is within our capacity to assist, we will.”

The Salvation Army Cambridge Community Services also offers food assistance to people experiencing hunger. Supported by The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, they offer a food hamper program by appointment from Monday to Thursday, serving about 100 households each week.

“Our food assistance program is set up like a grocery store meaning that participants get to pick for themselves the foods that they want to eat,” Danette explains.

Participants can choose from a variety of fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food items. If needed, they can also get other household and personal items like cleaning products and toiletries.

“There is a tremendous sense of gratitude from program participants,” Danette says. “They are all in need, some in dire need, of the basic necessities and they have no legitimate means of obtaining them. We provide that legitimate means and we do it in a non-judgmental way, without discrimination, respecting their dignity.”

In addition to their food hamper program, The Salvation Army Cambridge Community Services also runs a mobile feeding program on Thursdays called Operation Hope where they prepare food in their certified kitchen and then transport that food to various encampments in Cambridge. A hot meal like pasta, soup, or stew is typically served along with a hot drink, cold water, and fresh fruit or dessert. They also supply those accessing this program with toiletries, underwear, socks, tents, and sleeping bags. On just one Thursday in June, they provided 70 meals and gave away 200 personal items.

“Like most other food assistance programs, we have seen a huge increase in the demand for our services, so we struggle to maintain supplies,” Danette explains. “It’s also difficult to recruit and retain committed volunteers to help staff programs.”

Despite these challenges, Danette is glad they can do something to support those in need.

“The most rewarding thing about doing what we do is knowing that thousands of vulnerable people are going to have food in their stomachs, clothes on their back, and the school supplies that they need,” Danette says.

The Salvation Army Cambridge Community Services is one of over 120 agencies and community programs with the Community Food Assistance Network. Visit tsacambridgeon.org to learn more. If you’d like to help The Food Bank support Network partners like The Salvation Army Cambridge Community Services, visit our Get Involved section on our website to learn more about donating food, funds, or time.