Salvation Army commodity day a success with help of volunteers

The people of Tehachapi are known for taking care of their own. This couldn’t be truer as the Salvation Army continues to march forward in its mission to feed local families during the height of the pandemic.

The Salvation Army in Tehachapi reports seeing a definite increase in need due to the coronavirus.

In addition to Fresh Rescue days, held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of each week, the Salvation Army offers monthly commodities on the third Tuesday of each month. This endeavor is made possible through the help of the Salvation Army’s many volunteers as well as the folks at Platinum Realty Group.

Come rain, sleet, snow or wind, those in need can count on receiving a 75-pound box of food once

a month to ease the burden of these difficult times.

According to Sandy Chavez, Salvation Army director for Tehachapi, Platinum Realty Group has been a huge supporter of the monthly commodity day.

For more than a year, owner Christy Rabe and her employees have taken time to shut down their realty office and arrive at the Salvation Army ready to unpack crates and fill commodity boxes.

“They come and they bear the heat, the wind and the snow, and I am so thankful that they are here,” Chavez said of the Platinum Realty Group.

Even though her employees are not working in the office, Rabe said she pays her employees to serve at the Salvation Army to help fill the growing need.

“We all know that the third Tuesday of each month is booked because that is our time to give back,” Rabe said last week.

Chavez said everybody who comes to receive commodities is served on a first-come, firstserved basis as supplies last.

On a typical day, approximately 150 to 200 families receive commodity boxes. However, during the winter holidays, Chavez said the need increases to 300 families during the months of November and December. Last December, Rabe said, she and her volunteers filled 220 boxes.

The contents of the boxes may change from month to month. For example, this month’s boxes included four containers of juice, 10 pounds each of chicken quarters and chicken patties and bagged potatoes, canned food, dried milk, six pounds of carrots and more.

In addition to their volunteer hours, Platinum Realty Group donated $2,500 last year to help the Salvation Army fulfill its mission.

Said Rabe, “It is so gratifying because we all go in there with an open heart and an open mind. It doesn’t matter if they drive up in a Cadillac or a beat up, old truck with doors that don’t close. Everybody is an individual and a spirit that is in need, and we are so grateful that we can be part of this and give back.”

On an ideal day, commodities are distributed from 9 to 11 a.m. However the weather and delivery schedule can alter the times.

Located at 538 E. Tehachapi Blvd., the Salvation Army can be reached by calling 823-9508.

NICK SMIRNOFF / FOR TEHACHAPI NEWS Sorting and unloading pallets, nearly 20 of them, is done by Salvation Army volunteers. Their efforts will culminate with supplying commodities to feed nearly 200 local families. Donated food items include fresh vegetables such as carrots, frozen items such as chicken and a variety of canned goods from soup to beans. There are also large bags of powdered milk.

NICK SMIRNOFF / FOR TEHACHAPI NEWS Prior to masking up and loading up family food boxes are volunteer members of the Platinum Realty Group, from left to right: Carson Wolff, Shannon Daffern, Christy Rabe, Salvation Army Area Director Sandy Chavez and Platinum Realty member Lisa Mackenzie.

NICK SMIRNOFF / FOR TEHACHAPI NEWS Food is taken inside the building where its uncrated and stacked. Local Platinum Group volunteers Carson Wolff, Shannon Daffern and Christy Rabe put individual food items into family size food boxes.