Wayne Gillespie, CNMI Salvation Army ministry leader on Tuesday said the soup kitchen, which will be located on the second floor of Guma Yo’Ase, or House of Mercy, will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Volunteers will feed anyone who comes in, young and old, and in need of food assistance. The food will be supplemental meals and include soup and sandwiches, pasta and others.
“We would gladly feed anybody who is hungry at the soup kitchen,” Gillespie said. All they require from individuals who will come in is to sign up.
For now, the soup kitchen will be open only every Saturday, and the schedule is subject to change depending on the donations and on how the community responds to it.
The ground floor of the two-story building will house the rummage sale area. Gillespie said they will accept donations of usable items such as furniture and appliances and resell these at a low price. The proceeds will be used to fund the soup kitchen.
He said the rummage sale area will also be open to the public at different schedules, depending on the volume of items they receive as donations.
Gillespie said they will also open the CNMI’s first drop-in center for the homeless at the same location.
The center is not a shelter but a place where homeless individuals can come in for a hot meal, get a shower or do their laundry.
As the Salvation Army relies mainly on donations from the community, Gillespie is urging generous donors to continue supporting them.
“We need donations such as canned goods, peanut butter and other items,” Gillespie said. They also have a Facebook page which supporters can visit to get the latest updates. Just search for “CNMI Salvation Army.”
Gillespie extends his thanks to the Bank of Hawaii, Foremost, and D&Q for continually supporting the Salvation Army.
For information on how to extend your help or donate to the CNMI Salvation Army, email [email protected] or call Wayne Gillespie at 483-0885.
