No More Free Lunch At Salvation Army In Riverhead

For the past four years, the homeless and hungry have headed to the Salvation Army, located on Osborn Avenue in Riverhead, for a free lunch to help keep them nourished during the darkest times of their lives.

But in July, the Salvation Army stopped serving lunches to the area's needy.

"It wasn't an easy decision," said Salvation Army Lt. Kelly Ross. 

But, she said, "the funding source ran out."

Ross said the regular clientele who stopped by regularly for sandwiches, bread, and baked goods were all notified over a month in advance that the free lunches would be no more.

The Salvation Army had collaborated with the Open Arms soup kitchen to distribute lunches after Open Arms was no longer able to distribute sandwiches and coffee out of the train station in Riverhead.

The town did not renew the lease that would have allowed Open Arms to stay at the railroad station. Although former Town Supervisor Phil Cardinale was a proponent of the use, current Town Supervisor Sean Walter said at the time that the transportation hub was important as the first look many visiting the area got of Riverhead and his hope was to bring some kind of new business to the station.

Ross said other concerns arose, including safety issues centering on stairs and other factors. "Having 180 people in our building for lunchtime became a safety concern," she said. Also, the kitchen was too small and only one bathroom was available.

For those who are in dire need and hungry, the Salvation Army still offers a food pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. 

In addition, those in emergency situations can still get a sandwich and juice. To-go items such as tuna and other foods are still available. 

"We're not leaving them with nothing," Ross said.

Since news spread that the lunches were not to be distributed any longer, only about 15 or 20 hungry individuals have come in, Ross said.

Looking ahead, the Salvation is working to garner funding in the fall for a mobile food truck that will drive around to different areas, distributing sandwiches and coffee to the needy.

The Salvation still hands out clothing vouchers, and is working on a back-to-school bash to hand out backpacks and other school supplies to needy kids.

In addition, the Salvation Army provides assistance with toys at Christmas, help with Thanksgiving baskets for the hungry, and a free day camp for the Doctors Path apartments, which operates from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; both breakfast and lunch are served and kids are taken on field trips.