Salvation Army in Thomasville, Georgia, has received a generous donation from the United Way of Thomas County to establish a commercial kitchen, allowing them to better serve the local community. The check presented by the United Way will be matched by Salvation Army’s Divisional Headquarters and has been requested to also be matched by the Territorial Headquarters. This funding will support the construction of the commercial kitchen, set to begin in January and be completed in approximately eight weeks.
Since January 2023, Salvation Army has been providing meals to local residents every Wednesday. However, they have outgrown their current residential church kitchen. The goal with the new commercial kitchen is to continue providing weekly meals and potentially expand to daily meals in the future. The Salvation Army hopes to secure additional funding and volunteers to potentially offer three meals a day.
While the funding covers the construction of the commercial kitchen, it does not include the day-to-day necessities such as pots, pans, utensils, plates, or food. Furthermore, funding and donations do not cover overhead costs, including the need for additional staff. The Salvation Army is seeking a church to sponsor one Wednesday meal a month to alleviate some of the financial and staffing pressures.
Despite the challenges, the Salvation Army remains committed to serving the community and meeting the needs of individuals in Thomasville. The organization has already received assistance from the City of Thomasville and Servpro, which has been instrumental in supporting their efforts. Currently, Salvation Army serves over 200 individuals on a weekly basis, with expectations for the crowd to grow once the commercial kitchen is operational.
The Salvation Army’s dedication to providing meals stems from the closure of Sister Douglas, a mission that used to offer support to the community. Even after its closure, people continued to line up in hopes that someone would take over the initiative. Inspired by this need, Salvation Army stepped in to fill the void and has been striving to carry on Sister Douglas’ original intent.
The organization encourages anyone interested in donating or serving to reach out, as these actions not only change the lives of those receiving food but also positively impact the lives of those serving. The Salvation Army remains grateful for the support and generosity they have received, and they are eager to continue their mission of providing meals and hope to the community of Thomasville.
