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Local eateries support response efforts
The City and County of San Francisco, The Salvation Army, and the American Red Cross, along with other local partners, are continuing service to nearly 100 individuals affected by recent building fires.
The Salvation Army opened its doors Jan. 30 at the San Francisco Mission Corps Community Center for the American Red Cross to administer a shelter for survivors of the Mission, Hyde and Alamo Square fires. The corps also served as the weekend location for the Local Assistance Center (LAC), which provided case management support to the fire survivors. Ongoing casework is being managed by the Red Cross at an offsite location.
So far, 39 individuals have been housed overnight for six nights, with other survivors and extended family taking refuge at the Mission Corps during the day.
The Salvation Army is also managing feeding operations for the response effort, providing breakfast, lunch and dinner for 75 survivors and shelter volunteers. To date, The Salvation Army has served nearly 960 meals since the shelter opened.
While The Salvation Army prepared the meals for the first three days, local restaurants, including Tartine Bakery, BiRite Market, Tacolicious, HeyDay Restaurant, Sprig, Delfina, and Good Eggs, are now taking turns providing meals for Salvation Army volunteers to serve at the shelter.
“I must tell you what a wonderful treat it is to be providing the survivors with such fine foods,” said John McKnight, director of Emergency and Disaster Services for the Golden State Division. “They have been through so much, and this generosity by local restaurants is giving the survivors healthy food to eat, and great meals to share as a community.”
On the first day back to school after the fire, volunteers provided new backpacks, supplies and lunch bags for the children in the shelter—even packing lunches for the kids. Additionally, The Salvation Army has issued over $1,300 in assistance so evacuees can acquire clothes for work and school. Above all, Salvation Army officers, caseworkers and volunteers have been a source of emotional support.
“We have been blessed to be in a position to help a lot of people,” McKnight said. “Long after this shelter closes, we will continue to support this population as we know recovery will take time.”
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