The Salvation Army in Lawton, Oklahoma is running out of food, with more families to feed in recent weeks.   That is why The Salvation Army is asking you to help Stock Our Shelves.  Every day we reach out to the hungry in our community with nutritious food to meet their basic need for sustenance.

Major Raymond Pruitt was in the KLAW studios this week and shared an amazing number with us:

"The need for food boxes has grown by 100% in the last year."

Wow!  100 percent growth in need.  That means we need to do better to help out.

The people served include: the “working poor” who are struggling to escape poverty, lonely and destitute senior citizens, and men, women and children who have no place to turn for help.  If we don’t immediately stock our shelves with groceries, we won’t be able to feed hungry people like these.

Items needed for the food pantry (non-perishable items) include peanut butter, cans of high protein items such as tuna, chicken, beans, beef stew and canned vegetables. Other items include canned fruit, dried fruit, baby food and formula, one-pound bags of beans, bags of rice, anything that can help someone else is useful. Currently, the pantry shelves are nearly depleted.

Other Non-food Items to donate include paper products such as toilet paper and paper towels, personal care products such as shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, deodorant, and soap products.  Extras might include tea, coffee, and spices.   Items can be dropped off at 1306 SW E Avenue or The Salvation Army Family Store at 1404 SW E Avenue.

Major Raymond Pruitt reports “the shelves are basically empty.   We have people calling for food boxes and we must turn them away.” The Social Services director reports that they are seeing this happen monthly.  Within the first couple of weeks of the month, most all the canned food items are gone from the shelves.  Because we buy many food items in bulk, we are able to stretch your gift and do the most good possible for hungry people in our community.  A donation of $40 can feed one person for a week.  $160 will provide food for a family of four for a week.

The Salvation Army of Lawton provides food boxes to the needy on a regular, if not daily basis. It helps so much if the community is aware and if they can assist us, to do so.  Major Pruitt states “It is a good thing to bless those in need, because you never know when you might need help.”

You can also help The Salvation Army without ever leaving your house.  You can call 1-800-SAL-ARMY and donate to the Lawton, Oklahoma location and direct it towards emergency needs.   Also, checks can be mailed to The Salvation Army, 1306 SW E Avenue, Lawton, OK 73501 .

For more information, or to donate, please call The Salvation Army 580-355-1802 or visit us at 1306 S.W. E Avenue or online at www.salvationarmyaok.org