COVID-19 Response

Supporting our province during a pandemic

Every day in British Columbia we work with our communities’ most vulnerable. And every day we see the compounded effects of individuals and families who are impacted by poverty, homelessness, addiction, and even violence. This past year, we experienced all of that and more as we also had to deal with a worldwide pandemic. Almost overnight, we had to change the way we live, work, and serve in our communities. And while it was one of the biggest challenges we have ever faced, we faced it head on.

COVID-19 has hit us financially, emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically. Isolation and physical distancing measures were and continue to be challenging for individuals and organizations. But with the help of government, our donors and community partners, The Salvation Army in B.C. was able to ensure that our communities were (and are still) being served.

As an essential service, we work in close to 60 communities across the province, providing food, clothing, and shelter to those impacted by the pandemic. When the crisis hit, our pandemic plans were put in place immediately to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers, clients, and community members. Throughout the province, our locations adapted and modified their programs to make sure we could meet the growing demand for services.

Several of our shelters partnered with various Health Authorities to find additional housing for the homeless, shelter rooms and common areas were configured to practice safe social distancing for their clients. Quarantine rooms were established for those showing symptoms.

Our Food Banks and Community Feeding Programs saw an increase in demand due to layoffs, work force reductions and school closures. And while social distancing prevented dine-in community meals service so take-away meals were provided. In a short period of time, we saw an increase in demand for our meal services that jumped over 100 per cent as once gainfully employed family members were lined up outside our feeding programs and food banks.

As volunteer engagement decreased, our locations developed innovative ways to support the community despite a lack of people power. A big thank you goes out to this brave group of people who continued to serve on the front lines, alongside us.

At The Salvation Army we do not do this work alone and we are incredibly grateful to our supports and partners, groups like the Rogers family, the Vancouver Canucks, community partners like Union Gospel Mission, the provincial and federal governments, and individual donors and supporters who allowed us to do this work.

As we move forward, we will navigate these challenging and unprecedented times together—with a unity of purpose—providing support and giving hope to those in need… today and every day in British Columbia and across the country.