Salvation Army of Phoenix to provide free meals, gifts on Christmas Day

PHOENIX — The Salvation Army will be providing a free Christmas dinner on Friday for all Phoenix-area residents in need of a warm meal.

Meal service will be held in the south building of the Phoenix Convention Center, located at the corner of Washington and Third streets.

Doors open at 10 a.m. and distribution will end at 12:30 p.m., unless meals run out first.

The annual holiday dinner will look a bit different this year, due to health and safety measures implemented for coronavirus concerns.

Guests will not be allowed to sit down and eat. All meals will be served in to-go containers and can be picked up either by waiting in a socially-distanced line or by drive-thru on the east side of the building.

Face masks are required to enter the building and hand sanitizing stations will be set up throughout.

Activities usually provided at the Christmas event, such as meeting Santa, family photos, haircuts and live entertainment, will not take place this year.

However, each family will receive a board game or puzzle with their hot meal, while supplies last.

The organization says they are still in need of volunteers to help deliver meals to those who are homebound and unable to attend the event.

As more families struggle to make ends meet amid the pandemic, the Salvation Army estimates it will serve around 9,000 meals, including the delivered meals.

Everyone who is in need of a meal is welcome to come. No advance registration is required.

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