Salvation Army volunteer effort honored by State of Maryland

The Maryland Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism has recognized the volunteers of The Salvation Army's senior feeding program in Baltimore as Pandemic Response Champions during the 37th Annual Governor's Service Awards.

The Older Adults Feeding Program is a volunteer-driven operation created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and a component of The Salvation Army. In collaboration and partnership with the Baltimore City Health Department's Division of Aging (the LEAN Campaign), Baltimore City Department of Transportation and the Maryland Department of Aging's Maryland Access Point (MAP), a large-scale feeding operation provided up to 10,000 meals a day to vulnerable seniors in 145 senior living facilities and residential housing within Baltimore.

Nearly 1 million meals were delivered with thousands of volunteer hours. Volunteers ranged from community members who served a handful of times, those that made volunteering a part of their everyday lives and the dedicated service of the Maryland National Guard. 

"None of this positive community impact could have been achieved without our neighbors stepping up to the call for action," the nominator said. "Our volunteers embodied The Salvation Army's pillars: passion, compassion, bravery, uplifting, and trustworthiness. Regardless of weather conditions, time conflicts or logistical hiccups, they would report early, put on their PPEs and serve."