The good news for the people in our community who rely on the Salvation Army for services, including helping pay their utility bills and putting food on their tables, is the organization’s generosity was on display recently during a local food pantry when they provided food for 50 people.

The number of people who need help in our community has been high for the past several years. Even as the rest of the country limped out of the recession, the Western Tidewater area has lagged behind with a 9.8 percent unemployment rate. This makes the Salvation Army’s programs all the more important to the community’s overall stability.

So, we extend our thanks to the volunteers who come on the second and fourth Thursday of each month to hand out fruits, vegetables, canned goods, juice or tea, breads and even pastries. And we salute the generous local people who dug deep into their pockets or their pantries to ensure that the less fortunate among us receive the help they need.

But lets not forget the Salvation Army needs your continued help and support to be able to fulfill requests for help. So we ask that you please reach out and help the Salvation Army as it continues to assist our community.