Salvation Army makes special projects possible

​George Salnave, Chairman of the Poweshiek County Service Extension Unit #261 of the Salvation Army, right, is joined by Marvin Ferneau in delivering two freezers to the Montezuma Food Pantry. They are shown with the 14-cubic foot freezer, which will be used to store USDA foods. USDA food safety guidelines state that USDA foods must be stored separately from other foods and marked as USDA. The freezers were purchased at the Sears Hometown in Oskaloosa.

    The Poweshiek County Service Extension Unit #261 of the Salvation Army recently completed three special projects in Montezuma. The Montezuma Community School, Montezuma Public Library and the Montezuma Food Pantry and the residents they serve all benefited from assistance by the Poweshiek County Service Extension Unit #261 of the Salvation Army.
    Funds for these projects come directly from the units’ annual service extension assistance budget, which is made up from bell ringing and any local community fund giving. The Salvation Army Division Finance Board in Omaha, Neb. determines the merits of the project that is applied for.  
   Montezuma Community School was assisted with a variety of requested items such as hand sanitizers, Kleenex, Lysol wipes, children’s shoes, socks and underwear, and other miscellaneous school supplies for students, teachers, and the school nurse. The school was helped with $1,633,30 worth of items for the fall school year. Some items such as ear buds and headphones were not available at this time to purchase, but due to the fiscal year special projects, need to be completed by mid-August. Secretary Becky Bryan expressed deep gratitude on behalf of the staff for the wonderful items that will help immensely.
   Another special project that will benefit many was the purchase of a 21-cubic foot refrigerator and 5-cubic foot chest freezer for the Montezuma Public Library community room. Librarian Christine Grimm said, “We are blessed beyond measure with these brand-new appliances that will hold our snacks and drinks for our kids’ fun reading programs!  We are very fortunate to have such a supportive and generous organization in our community.” Harold Wheeler and Jeff and Wyatt Grimm, Christine’s husband, and son were gracious enough to move the appliances on Wednesday, July 7 since delivery was not available with the purchase.  
   On Monday, July 12, the Montezuma Food Pantry received two chest freezers for their use in storing and distributing USDA frozen products to clients. Poweshiek County Salvation Army Chairman George Salnave and Marvin Ferneau picked up the 17-cubic foot and 14-cubic foot freezers from Sears Hometown in Oskaloosa, transported, and placed them at the pantry. USDA food safety guidelines state that USDA foods must be stored separately from other foods and marked as USDA. The pantry needed special freezers to keep other purchased meats apart and distinguishable from USDA products to ensure better management of inventory and lessening any TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) loss according to government mandates.
   The local Salvation Army service extension unit is comprised of volunteers Chairman George Salnave, Welfare Secretary and Treasurer Darla Wilson, and Special Project Co-Coordinator Christy Bushong with Service Extension and Disaster Director Daniel Taylor in the Omaha, Neb. office of the Western Divisional Headquarters.

​George Salnave, Poweshiek County Service Extension Unit #261 of the Salvation Army Chairman, left, is joined by Marvin Ferneau after delivering two freezers to the Montezuma Food Pantry. They are shown with the 17-cubic foot freezer, which will be used to store USDA foods. USDA food safety guidelines state that USDA foods must be stored separately from other foods and marked as USDA. The freezers were purchased at the Sears Hometown in Oskaloosa.