The hardships sparked by the mandated stay-at-home order and other efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus has placed added strain on outreach efforts provided by numerous service groups.

The Salvation Army of Lake County, Porter and Jasper Counties, in partnership with Strack & Van Til Food Markets, is conducting a “Check-Out Challenge” campaign to raise emergency dollars for the Salvation Army’s services.

The money will help provide groceries, hot meals and other necessary goods and services to individuals and families experiencing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Salvation Army said.

For the next four weeks Strack & Van Til locations will accept donations for The Salvation Army, which will go directly to residents in need in Lake, Porter and Jasper Counties.

In more than decade of conducting check-out-challenges or round-up campaigns, where customers are asked to round-up their purchase amounts to the nearest dollar with the extra funds going to a specified charity, Strack & Van Til has raised more than $900,000, which has benefitted numerous organizations.