Facebook delivers 5,000 meals to Napa Valley Salvation Army, pledges more

A screenshot of a video shows a food delivery to the Napa Valley Salvation Army. A screenshot of a video shows a food delivery to the Napa Valley Salvation Army. Photo: Sarah Fritsche Photo: Sarah Fritsche Image 1 of / 45 Caption Close Facebook delivers 5,000 meals to Napa Valley Salvation Army, pledges more 1 / 45 Back to Gallery

Facebook delivered 5,000 meals to the Napa Valley Salvation Army on Sunday morning, joining the efforts earlier in the week by food trucks, pit-masters, restaurants and other culinary organizations to feed evacuees stranded by the Wine Country fires.

According to the Salvation Army’s Major Kevin Hanson, representatives from the social media company reached out on Friday after seeing a call for help the Salvation Army had posted on its Facebook page.

It was “just a call out of the blue,” Hanson said.

And, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

On a normal day, chef Paul Fields, who runs the organization’s year-old culinary training academy, and his team serve up to roughly 600 meals. Since the fires began, that number has jumped to approximately 3,600 meals, which have been distributed to shelters throughout the area, including Napa Valley College, Crosswalk Community Church and American Canyon.

The Facebook meals included rice dishes, stews and vegetables, which “really plugged a hole,” said Fields. His program trains and places at-risk individuals in the culinary fields.

Facebook has committed to continuing to delivery 5,000 meals 3 times a week as long as there is a need, Fields said. The next delivery is scheduled for Wednesday.

“That amount of food, you can serve a lot,” said Fields.

(For those interested in making donations to the Napa Valley Salvation Army — the organization says it could still use Cambro storage containers, as well as hot dog and hamburger buns — call (707) 226-8150 to arrange a drop-off.)

Sarah Fritsche is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sfritsche@sfchronicle.com Twitter/Instagram: @foodcentric