Maj. Darlene Means of the Butler Salvation Army said vacation Bible school as well as a summer sleepaway camp have returned in the wake of the loosening of pandemic restrictions.

With the loosening of pandemic restrictions, the Butler Salvation Army is bringing back two summertime events.

Maj. Darlene Means said the Salvation Army will have its vacation Bible school from 2 to 5 p.m. June 21 to 25 for children ages 6 to 12.

The Bible school will be at the organization's location at 313 E. Cunningham St.

In addition, the Army will bring back its sleepaway camp at Camp Allegheny in Elwood City from July 12 to 16 for children ages 6 to 12.

Means said the vacation Bible school will include a Bible lesson, a game, crafts and a snack. It will be run by Bryan Cook and four teenagers from the Salvation Army's Pittsburgh headquarters.

“The residential camp is free,” Means said. “They will be staying overnight. There will be a Bible lesson, but they will be swimming, hiking. There is a nature lodge. There are sports. Children will be transported by us to the camp.”

To register children or for more information on the Bible school or Camp Allegheny, call 724-287-5532.

Means said there will be a back-to-school event at an as yet undetermined date to provide returning students with backpacks, haircuts and clothing. Means said she hopes to make it an annual event.

The Salvation Army also hopes to start an after-school program three days a week once school begins in the fall.

Children will come to the Cunningham Street headquarters where volunteers will help them with their schoolwork and homework.

“We're looking for volunteers,” Means said. “I've been reaching out to Slippery Rock University and Butler County Community College for students interested in helping.

“We'll provide dinner for the children, and for an hour we will open up the game room and the gym,” she said.

She said all of the details of the after-school program have not been worked out.

There are changes for the existing programs too.

The Salvation Army serves up a free hot meal to anyone who asks from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every weekday.

During the pandemic, the meals were takeout only, but Means said, “The dining area is open, but people can still get their meals to go.”

She asked that those getting meals to go wait until 12:30 p.m. to avoid confusion between sit-down diners and those picking up takeout.

“We are serving 50 to 60 people a day,” Means said. “They still aren't used to coming in for a meal.”

Charlese McKinney, director of partner network programs for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, said, “We probably will see a slight uptick in demand for the hot meal programs.”

The Salvation Army's food cupboard hours have changed as well.

Food packages, enough to provide meals for three days, can be picked up from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 1 to 2 p.m. Thursdays. People must be registered to use the food pantry.

“We don't ask for documentation of vaccination,” Means said. “If you are not vaccinated, we ask that you wear a mask. We're still practicing social distancing.

“For the soup kitchen, we are looking for a couple of volunteers to run the dishwasher and keep the dining room clean and pick up afterwards,” she said.

Means and her husband, David, have both been promoted to majors in the Salvation Army.