Some businesses and organizations might be closed to the public, but several charitable groups still provide services, and for that, we are grateful.

Two of those organizations are The Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul-Marquette.

With the need increasing because of local job losses due to the COVID-19 situation, The Salvation Army in Marquette and Ishpeming will continue as the organization is exempt with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order although daily tasks have been modified to enforce no-contact operations and social distancing practices. 

Prepared food baskets will replace the previous client-choice pantry operations, and people who have recently lost their employment are urged to register for pantry services.

Last week, the Marquette food pantry provided 63 baskets two days in a row, which is higher than normal, according to Capt. Doug Winters of The Salvation Army. 

“We’re here to help and assist in any way that we can and get involved, especially right now with food nutrition for people in our county,” Winters told The Mining Journal.

The organization is mainly looking for monetary donations due to the current situation. People can drop off non-perishables at the pantry drop box, but they should follow the social distancing executive orders made by Whitmer.

Food pantries in Ishpeming and Marquette are open from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 1 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 9:30 a.m. to noon Thursday. The mobile food pantry still is scheduled from 5 to 6:30 p.m. April 16 with similar social distancing measures in place where a drive-through operation will be conducted.

To donate directly to the COVID-19 response efforts, log on to donate.salvationarmywi.org/wumcovid19donations or to send a donation through the mail, send a check to The Salvation Army at 1009 Baraga Ave. Marquette, MI 49855 or The Salvation Army at 222 E. Division St., Ishpeming, Michigan 49849, marking the check as CV19 Marquette County.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul said on its website, “We are accustomed to working with vulnerable populations. Like other business and organizations, our local groups have adopted protocols for preventing the spread of coronavirus, including increased access to hand sanitizer, added signage and verbal hand-washing reminders, and minimized personal contact.”

Even with those protocols, the organization still is serving vulnerable populations.

St. Vincent de Paul-Marquette stressed its food pantry is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. In fact, the organization’s 20 food pantries across the Upper Peninsula are open, and accept donations. For more information, contact the food pantry at each site.

Monetary donations can be sent to St. Vincent de Paul-Marquette, 2119 Presque Isle Ave., Marquette, MI 49855, with the specific donation site listed on the check.

It’s always a good time to help people in need, but considering the current circumstances, now is a particularly good time.