LYNN — Almost two months into the social distancing practices to blunt the spread of the COVID-19 virus went into effect, the Salvation Army has seen a dramatic uptick in the number of food-pantry recipients.
Capt. Helen Johnson from the Salvation Army’s Franklin Street headquarters said Thursday that where before the pandemic began there was an average of 60 recipients daily, there have been days since early March where that number has climbed up to 500 in a single three-hour period between 9 a.m. and noon.
“We’ve seen people lined up around the block with their push carts waiting for a box of food,” Johnson said. “Every evening, from 4 to 6 p.m., our people go out and deliver food to whoever needs it — people who are quarantined, or other seniors who need it and can’t get there.”
Johnson said that even though the Salvation Army’s headquarters are in Lynn, and that it caters to Lynn people, it does not discriminate.
“We won’t send you home if you’re not from Lynn either,” she said.
As she and her husband, Capt. Bruce Johnson, have three children, she’s home all day.
“But my husband’s been there 24/7,” Johnson said. “It’s been insane.”
Johnson acknowledges that the traffic jams caused by the number of people lining up for food have made for some clogged streets, “the city has been very helpful, especially city officials,” she said. She singled out Ward 6 Councilor Fred Hogan as being particularly helpful.
“He’s kind of coordinated the effort,” Johnson said.
While the Salvation Army has engaged in helping others whose financial fortunates have taken a hit, Johnson said the pandemic has had its effects on her organization too.
“For us, as a charity, we have been feeling the pinch,” she said. “As time goes on, companies — even though they don’t want to — have had to let people go. Slowly, they realize they have no choice.
“Kids are home from school, sitting around, needing to eat. It all has an effect.”
Even within the Salvation Army’s effort, this effect has been severe.
“We have only three employees,” she said. “We have a lot of volunteers, but as you can imagine, not everyone in this environment is that anxious to volunteer, even though we do our social distancing. We have some who help pack the boxes. It’s hard on our employees and volunteers.”
Johnson doesn’t see the need dwindling when and if the country gets back to normal.
“I think even when things start to open, requests for rent and other funding will come into play. I see the need being a lot more expansive very quickly.”
But, she said, she is very encouraged by the response the Salvation Army has received in the community.
“It’s been an overwhelming situation,” she said. “But we’ve had people step up. And we want to assure people we’re still there.”
Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].
