Salvation Army Food pantry propped up with $30,000 in contributions

Salvation Army Captain Ray Morris, left, and other volunteers were out last night on the final night of Project ELFF, collecting food donations for the food pantry.

By Tom Peterson

A tidal wave of contributions for The Salvation Army has poured in during the past 24 hours, according to multiple officials and business leaders.

“What a great community we have,” said Chris Zukin who sits on the advisory board for The Salvation Army.

On Thursday Morning, Zukin became aware that The Salvation Army’s food pantry was bare. So, he sent out an email yesterday to local business owners, and soon it was being shared all around the community. As of Thursday afternoon, The Salvation Army had received $10,700 in donations, he said. 

Salvation Army Captain Ray Morris said the checks were continuing to come in today.

“People have really stepped up,” he said.

Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue also got some great news yesterday as they were preparing for the final day of food donations to the Project ELFF program.

Google donated $10,000 to ELFF through its Tides Foundation, said Fire Chief Robert Palmer this morning. The money will bring the total food items- cans and packages - to some 12,000, which will feed thousands. 

“It was a big boost to the program,” he said. Project ELFF, which changed its collection pattern from going door to door to accepting donations at schools, had a big dip in donations on its first night, Tuesday, Dec. 1.

“It was crickets,” he said.

But with people rallying around the program and getting the word out on social media, Wednesday and Thursday turnout proved to be much better for total donations. 

He said they collected in total some 4,000 packages or cans of food. 

“That really worked well,” he said of the mass marketing campaign that locals put on.

“Our goal at Project ELFF is to help those in need. It makes me feel good to get The Salvation Army up to speed again. Those donations will stock the pantry and have traditionally lasted into summer.”

Project ELFF also supports St. Vincent de Paul.

Firefighters with Dallesport/Murdock Fire & Rescue take food collections for Project ELFF in Dallesport on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, The City of The Dalles has earmarked $10,000 of state COVID-19 relief fund dollars to go toward The Salvation Army. “That was granted yesterday,” said City Councilor Tim McGlothlin. “The paperwork is being completed as we speak.”

The Dalles City Manager Julie Krueger said the city can cut Salvation Army a check soon as they get a letter from Capt. Morris. 

“It is really exciting for us to do that,” said Krueger. “The need is critical and urgent, and it’s great to get it in their hands right now and help so many people in the community.”

Zukin was overwhelmed with the outpouring of help. 

“It makes me want to cry and it makes my heart glow,” Zukin said. “We have a great community. They see a need and they fill it. It’s just amazing.”

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