Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning, Jose Cruz and his wife, Georgina Cruz, arrive at the Salvation Army Community Center at 515 43rd Street at 4 a.m. to begin cooking for the more than 100 people who come to their soup kitchen each day.
Since opening the soup kitchen in June, the Salvation Army has already served more than 3,000 meals in its Union City community center. Unfortunately, due to lack of individual and corporate donations, the site may have to cut its meal service or just stop serving altogether.
“We are certainly going to have to find something,” said Brenda Beavers from the Salvation Army’s state headquarters. “The need far exceeds the resources we have there.”
The soup kitchen is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and can attract as many as 140 people daily, a number that’s expected to increase in the winter.
“When winter comes, we expect to have more than 200 people here each day,” said Tricia Pellegrini, the public and community relations manager for the New Jersey Salvation Army. “This will also be a place for them to get warm.”
According to Cruz, the Union City Salvation Army’s commanding officer, people come from all over Hudson County, including West New York, Weehawken, North Bergen and Union City, to eat each day.
The menu, which always includes a salad and rice, changes each day.
“I believe that God will help us find the financial resources to help these poor people,” said Cruz. “We need help and are praying for a miracle to occur. We cannot in good faith close the kitchen and watch people go hungry.”
Providing funding
The Salvation Army in Union City is using money from its operating budget to fund the soup kitchen. However, this money is getting low. The majority of the center’s funds come from the kettle drives. While most people think that these drives are only used for Christmas, these drives are used for programs throughout the year.
According to Pellegrini, last year the drives did not bring in as much money as they usually do.
“Last year, particularly following Sept. 11, we saw a tremendous drop-off in donations,” said Pellegrini adding that the center has only received $300 in donations since the soup kitchen has opened.
“If no funding becomes available or donations do not increase, we may have to shut the soup kitchen down,” said Pellegrini.
Before the soup kitchen opened, Envoy Silvia Machado, the divisional League of Mercy secretary, said that many people were coming into the center asking for food.
“We are truly filling the need of the community,” said Machado.
Although many of the people who come to the center for food are homeless, others come because they are in between jobs or were recently laid off.
Besides funding, the Salvation Army could also use more kitchen appliances, such as a new stove or refrigerator to store the food. Right now, the volunteers are working with one small kitchen stove.
“For some, this is their only warm meal,” said Machado.
More than just food
The Salvation Army has been a friend of the homeless, elderly unemployed and poor since it was founded by William Booth in 1865.
More than just furniture, clothing and Christmas kettle drives, the Salvation Army provides emergency assistance such as food and shelter to those in need.
There are 32 community centers in New Jersey. The other center in Hudson County is located in Jersey City.
Last year, the Salvation Army provided 507,000 meals, and 360,841 individuals received emergency assistance for food, rent and utilities.
One individual who did not give his name visits the center to volunteer. The man came to the center to eat when he was out of a job. Since he has found work, he still visits the center and helps others who visit the center find work.
“Today they helped me, tomorrow I will help them,” said the volunteer, who painted the inside of the center.
The Salvation Army, an evangelical community, also provides spiritual guidance as well as holding worship on Sundays and having Sunday School classes.
All of the captains of the Salvation Army, including the Cruzes, are ordained ministers.
To make a donation or for more information call Tricia Pellegrini at (908) 851-8227 or Envoy Silvia Machado at (908) 851-8207.