But that's going to be a lot harder for the non-profit's center in West Chester this year, and it's not because there weren't enough donations to fill these empty shelves.
Instead, a freezer malfunctioned and ruined seven months worth of supplies.
"We're talking about $7,000 to $8,000 worth of meat that has been lost," said Maj. Gerald Morgan of the Salvation Army.
It's meat the Salvation Army had been stocking to feed thousands of needy Chester County families this holiday season.
The freezer is fixed and they now have one week to fill it back up - one week before 200 families line up for their holiday food packages.
"We still don't know what happened to it because it is a brand new freezer unit, but that is something we will consider afterwards. Right now our focus is on the families," said Morgan.
After that, they will also cook and serve at least 900 holiday dinners.
"We have seen requests go up by 54 percent of "food needs" only - that's a dramatic increase," Morgan said. "I have never seen it in the history of the Army."
When the folks at the Chester County Food Bank heard what happened, they sent over meat from their own freezer.
"It is a time of need for everybody right now. It is also a time of giving. In this county, people step up," said Larry Welsch of the Chester County Food Bank.
And they're stepping up to help the Salvation Army fulfill their promise.
"We will turn nobody away," said Morgan. "Especially for food."
To donate food you can drop it off at the Salvation Army in West Chester or mail in a monetary donation.
The Salvation Army
West Chester
101 E. Market St.
West Chester, PA 19380
610-696-8746
