Salvation Army, St. Paul's sharing kitchen shifting to to-go meals

Tiffin's Salvation Army has a feeding program and serves lunch three times a week. Now, it's shifting to providing everyone a take-home bag in light of the coronavirus. Major Donna Peterson — who is in post-retirement service, started in Tiffin in the middle of February and is in Tiffin through the end of June — said The Salvation Army is going to stay open as long as it possibly can, until officials are told they have to close. Peterson said some people come in on a regular basis, and others come at other times. Officials have a feeling there are going to be a lot of children also coming in now because of schools closing, she said. When a sit-down meal is offered, people can go back for second and third helpings. They can't go up for seconds when there is a take-home bag, and Peterson said officials want to make it as generous as they can. The agency is seeking donations of hand wipes, clean grocery bags, sheets of aluminum foil, juice boxes and pre-packaged food, such as fruit cups, granola bars, chips, crackers, pretzels and cookies. Donations will begin being accepted 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. today at 505 E. Market St., Tiffin. Food will be distributed during the normal serving time of 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Officials are hoping to be able to use foam containers and will get some more, Peterson said. "Those things can come undone a little too easily. … We don't want them to have to carry that in their hands," she said. The grocery bags would help people transport the containers. The bag program will last "as long as it needs to," Peterson said. Tiffin St. Paul's United Methodist Church's sharing kitchen is to continue to provide meals to those in need and is to transition to a to-go meal rather than serving inside. The meal can be picked up at the door on the east side of the building, according to the church. The food is offered at lunchtime Mondays and Thursdays. The program also is to give away pantry items. For more information about The Salvation Army, call (419) 447-2252. For more information about Tiffin St. Paul's United Methodist Church, call (419) 447-1743.