No More Regular Free Meals at Tyler Salvation Army

TYLER — The Salvation Army in Tyler announced this week it will no longer be offering regular meals for free. KETK reports the agency typically served about 5,000 meals every week but in recent years this has increased to 7,000. While the numbers have increased, the donations have not. The Salvation Army used to offer three meals a day. It will now be offering just dinner Monday through Friday, brunch on Saturday, and lunch on Sunday. Each meal now costs one dollar.

The Salvation Army’s Lindsey Galabeas said one day this week, “We had three people with signs…protesting outside of our property and we understand you’re upset because this is an upsetting thing and it’s OK for you to be angry and upset. The fact of the matter is we have to make the best decision for the rest of the residents who are staying with us.” She says the agency has at least 180 people living in its shelter and has to meet their needs as well.