The Tamaqua Salvation Army has an abundance of food and is ramping up its distribution schedule.

Typically, a large food distribution has been held every other month by the Tamaqua Salvation Army. Now, for the foreseeable future, the food will be available every two weeks.

“If you’re in one of those ZIP codes, all you have to do is pick up the phone and call,” said Capt. John Luby of the Tamaqua Salvation Army. “We will set you up with a substantial amount of food that you can access every two weeks, not two months. Based on the size of your family, you’re going to get dry goods, fruit, vegetables, meat, etc.”

Residents of Tamaqua, Coaldale, Rush, Brockton, Mary D, Tuscarora, Walker Township and Andreas of West Penn Township are eligible for pickup. All that’s needed at the time of appointment is identification at the door.

“It’s now being transformed to an appointment style of pickup to protect someone’s safety and dignity. … I think we can handle 12 in a real crunch to 15 different families in an hour by spacing them every five minutes or so.”

The food comes from a handful of different sources.

“Healthy Harvest of Reading, TEFAP, which is the government surplus food, and then there is state food. Between those three entities we are receiving sufficient food to distribute at that level, but you have to make an appointment. You don’t need to disclose any financial information; all we need is your Social, your phone number and your address.”

The Tamaqua Salvation Army is located at 105 W. Broad St.