GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – In honor of National Salvation Army Week, the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay extended their Helping Hands for Healthcare Heroes initiative to provide meals for local healthcare workers, police, and firefighters.
“During National Salvation Army Week, we look to celebrate and bring awareness to local programs and services,” says Major Matt O’Neil, “Our plan this year is to use our Emergency Disaster Services program to thank these incredible frontline workers who are giving their all to keep us safe and help get us through this pandemic.”
The Salvation Army canteen mobile feeding truck distributed lunch to nurses and other frontline workers at Bellin Health Ashwaubenon on Wednesday.
“They’re very thankful that people are thinking of them and I’m sure there’s a number of different organizations that are thanking healthcare workers, firefighters, and our police department. And it’s just a pleasure to serve with them and serve them too,” O’Neil tells WTAQ News, “They’re going day-to-day sometimes without lunches or without shift changes and things like that. They’re serving our community and we just want to say thank you.”
They will make stops at other sites throughout the week, as Salvation Army employees assemble 200 meals each day for delivery.
“Just thank you to the community. The support they’ve provided to healthcare workers throughout this community has just been tremendous…We are there for them. Not only for COVID-19, but we’re there for their regular healthcare needs as we move forward.” says Bellin Foundation President Steve Maricque, “Very positive from our employees. They’re very appreciative of the support we’ve received from the community and we want to thank the Salvation Army and local businesses that they worked with to coordinate this effort.”
The initiative also provides a boost to area businesses impacted by COVID-19 by purchasing sandwiches for meals from local restaurants.
