In the midst of an extreme budget shortfall, the Salvation Army was awarded a $7,500 grant Wednesday by Entergy.

The money will be applied toward the Mission 66 Diner and Food Pantry.

“According to the USDA, food security is an excellent indicator of hunger and overall community health; households that have consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle are considered food secure and food insecurity occurs when at some time during the year there is inadequate access to food,” Salvation Army grant writer Erica Bradshaw wrote.

Entergy’s Valarie Mabry said the Salvation Army was a great choice for the grant because of their existing working relationship with Entergy.

“The reason they were selected is because we work very well with the Salvation Army,” she said.

Entergy and the Salvation Army partner for a program called Power to Care, which helps elderly and disabled customers who qualify get energy assistance, Mabry said.

Mabry said a committee at Entergy carefully considers all grant applications before selecting a winner.

“The Salvation Army does great work in Warren and Claiborne county for us, so we like to do what we can for them because they’re always there for us,” she said.

Bradshaw said the Salvation Army is bracing to serve the growing number of households struggling to put food on their tables.

“We witness the need for food assistance on a daily basis and with the help of our community partners, local businesses and volunteers we are working hard to ease the burden,” she said. “We believe that with our assistance, we can help these households maintain healthy diets and lifestyles and that without our help many more would struggle with malnutrition, hunger and poor health. Today, there are many problems facing our communities that are often complex and difficult to solve, but the need for food — this is a need that The Salvation Army is thankful we can meet.”

The Salvation Army Mission 66 Diner provides hot lunches every weekday throughout the year. “Oftentimes, the meals we provide are the only hot meals these individuals will receive throughout the day,” she  said.

In 2014, The Mission 66 Diner served 15,439 meals with the help of more than 1,400 volunteers who donated more than 6,000 hours of their time. The Food Pantry provided 5,453 food items last year — a 134 percent jump from the prior year.

To donate to the Salvation Army send a check to 530 Mission 66, Vicksburg, MS 39183, or to make a donation online, visit www.salvationarmyalm.org/vicksburg.

The Salvation Army also accepts donations of clothing, shoes and furniture to sell in its thrift store. Old, unusable clothing goes into bales, which the Salvation Army is able to sell as well.