United Way helps fund Salvation Army's commercial kitchen

Aug. 10—THOMASVILLE- United Way of Thomas County presented a check to the Salvation Army on Wednesday afternoon to aid in their efforts of establishing a commercial kitchen to best serve local residents.

Salvation Army Sergeant Robyn Hickey explained every Wednesday since January 2023, Salvation Army has fed local residents, who once relied on the soup kitchen. However, the residential church kitchen they operate out of has quickly outgrown their needs.

This donation by United Way will be matched by Salvation Army's Divisional Headquarters and has been requested to also be matched by Salvation Army's Territorial Headquarters.

"Divisional Headquarters covers the state, but Territorial Headquarters covers the southern territory," Hickey said. "I haven't gotten a confirmation from Territorial Headquarters yet."

In addition to the check from United Way, Salvation Army has also received a donation from First Baptist Church.

Hickey said with the funds now gathered, construction on the commercial kitchen is expected to begin in January with a completion date of nearly eight weeks later.

Upon completion, Hickey said the goal will be to continue providing Wednesday meals with a hope to grow into daily meals.

"If funding comes in the future and we get volunteers, we could eventually provide three meals a day," Hickey said. "I don't want to knock out that idea."

However, the funding for the completion of the commercial kitchen does not include the day-to-day necessities like pots and pans, utensils, plates or any food.

"The more we grow, the more I would need a staff person or two," Hickey said. "This funding and donation does not cover any of that overhead."

Hickey knows daily meals and staff are possible, though.

"In Florida and Texas, which are both places I've served, after church we fed anyone who attended church or is at the door," Hickey said.

Hickey understands that dream may be far away for the time being.

Her current goal is to get a church to sponsor one Wednesday meal a month.

"We have a lot of churches in Thomasville and if they cover the cost of the meal or even serve, it relieves me and my three employees who help me constantly," Hickey said.

Hickey acknowledged the Salvation Army has been very blessed to already receive help from the City of Thomasville and Servpro on several occasions.

The help and donations go a long way when serving 200+ people on a weekly basis.

Hickey said they don't count the meals, because several individuals take two plates so they can have one then and one for dinner.

Hickey fully expects the crowd to grow once the commercial kitchen is built.

"Once something becomes a schedule for someone and they can count on it and know it's there, they continue to come," she said.

Hickey recalled when Sister Douglas closed, noting that people continued to line up for months, despite it closing, because they believed someone would take it over.

Seeing that need inspired Salvation Army to continue feeding the individuals who were lined up outside Sister Douglas' mission.

As Salvation Army continues to see through with Sister Douglas' original intent, they ask for anyone interested in donating or serving to call them, as it not only changes the lives of the people receiving the food, but the lives of the people serving as well.