Haynes’ store misfortunes benefited the Salvation Army. An accidental surplus of milk at the local grocery store is now used for the nonprofit’s monthly food program.
After a shipping error that left Olerud’s Market Center with thousands of extra 1/2 pint cartons of milk, the owners struggled to move the surplus at a heavily discounted price before ruining it. Haynes Salvation Army is one of the organizations he has benefited from. Salvation Army captains Kevin and Serena Woods have amassed a fair amount of small cartons.
Kevin Woods says he was able to distribute them to the community.
“I think[we]picked up 10, 10, or 12 cases of it — all the milk crates full of little school-sized little things we gave out to towns here, and some from Mosquito Lake.” He said. “I think we took eight cases to Mosquito Lake and the rest to the gateway to this town.”
Woods says the timing of the discounted milk fits perfectly with the Salvation Army’s monthly merchandise giveaway. We have included healthy varieties for families you may be in. The amount of food in each giveaway is based on your family size.
“Well, nothing goes to waste, right?” he said. “From 1 he thinks he is 4 and he is 1 household. They he gets 1 bag. If 1 household is more than 4 he gets 2 bags.” I can.
The Woods have been running the Salvation Army food program in Haines for nearly eight years, which they are proud of, Kevin said.
“Oh, I wake up every day and look forward to what I do,” he said. They were really struggling. From my experience with a large food bank in California, I knew what to do, who to ask, which button to press. Or I knew whose desk to jump on, so it didn’t take long.And then our shelves started filling up with connections to Anchorage food banks, and something started to happen. We don’t have a lot of money here in Haines, so that’s what I wanted.”
Families interested in monthly merchandise giveaways can complete a simple form at The Salvation Army. Small food boxes are available on weekdays at The Salvation Army for those who need help with food between product giveaways.
