The street-feeding program at work, in a
2010 photo. WOR "ON THE STREETS" FOR SALVATION ARMY WEEK
The street-feeding program at work, in a
2010 photo.
NewsTalk Radio 710 WOR, a media partner of The Salvation Army Greater New York Division, joined Army personnel "in the trenches" recently, conducting interviews with consumers and staff of the Greater New York Division's street-feeding program as part of coverage for National Salvation Army Week, May 14-20th.
Joe Bartlett, WOR News Director and Saturday morning show host, met up with a Salvation Army mobile street-feeding canteen that week to conduct interviews as the program went about its business of feeding the hungry at a stop on Northern Boulevard in Astoria, Queens. Bartlett observed that even in a steady rain, dozens of people had gathered at the location, waiting for The Salvation Army canteen to arrive.
". . . About 300 people a day; that's how many people we feed," said Captain Angelo Bermeo, head of The Salvation Army's Astoria Community Center, home-base for the street-feeding program. "We do breakfast and we do lunch. We've got two trucks that go out on the streets of Queens."
The menu at this particular site, Bartlett reported, included Moroccan chicken over rice, kabob bread and coffee. "Many times they [consumers] have told me that, sometimes, it's their only meal of the day," said Captain Bermeo, a sentiment confirmed by Bartlett in his conversations with some of those lining up to receive food. "They're trying to survive," Captain Bermeo said.
Much the same can be said about the street-feeding program itself. According to Captain Bermeo, The Salvation Army is continually faced with the challenge of increased need amid decreased funding, or, as he puts it, "We're actually expected to do more with less. "
Still, the Captain remains optimistic. "Because of who we are, we're still doing what we can. Hopefully somebody will come forward and [support] our mission. . . ."
The street-feeding program operates Monday to Friday, feeding about 1,500 people a week. The two canteens each make about four to seven stops, all in Queens, serving (mostly male) populations, ranging from the homeless to the working poor.
In addition to the street-feeding interviews, WOR's Salvation Army Week coverage also included an interview with Major Steven B. Stoops, Assistant Social Ministries Secretary for The Salvation Army Greater New York Division, speaking about The Army's new fleet of Emergency Service Vehicles --- multi-service vehicles capable of serving communities, at a moment's notice, through everything from street feedings to emergency disaster services.
"They're Sprinter vans that are decorated on the outside with a beautiful logo that let's everyone know that it's The Salvation Army doing its work in the Greater New York area," said Major Stoops. "On board are all-weather tents, on board is the ability to carry meals for more than 1,500 people at a time."
Public-service announcements about The Salvation Army's Emergency Service Vehicles and disaster services aired on WOR as a run-up to the National Salvation Army Week coverage.
First proclaimed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954, National Salvation Army Week today is marked by public-relations initiatives and special events designed to raise awareness of the work of The Salvation Army and give thanks to its many donors, volunteers, and other supporters throughout the year. National Salvation Army Week is typically observed the second or third week of May.
A key media partner, WOR has collaborated with The Salvation Army on a number of projects, most prominently several successful holiday Radiothons that have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for The Army in the Greater New York area. This year's WOR holiday Radiothon to benefit The Salvation Army is scheduled for December 7th.
If you'd like to make a donation in support of the work of The Salvation Army in the Greater New York area, including the street-feeding program, please click here.