Salvation Army Today

Gainesville, Georgia Reopens Shelter to the Community

In a heartwarming ceremony, The Salvation Army of Gainesville, Georgia reopened its shelter doors after a three-month renovation, marking a significant milestone in the community’s journey of compassion and support.
 
The Gainesville shelter, a haven for those in need that can house more than 50 people, is one of only a few shelters in the Gainesville-Hall County area. The thoughtful renovations and upgrades have transformed it into an even more welcoming space for those facing homelessness and adversity.
 
The goal of the renovations was not just to provide a safe place with a roof over people’s heads but to create a space that fosters dignity, warmth, and a sense of community.
 
The shelter is a hub for comprehensive support services as it provides counseling, job placement assistance, and educational programs, empowering individuals on their journey to self-sufficiency.
 
If you or a loved one is in need, visit SALVATIONARMYUSA.ORG to find a shelter near you or offer your support.
 

The Salvation Army of Oak Creek To Open New Senior Center Program

The Salvation Army of Oak Creek Wisconsin hosted a Grand Opening for its new Senior Center on Monday, January 8th.
The Salvation Army Senior Center, which will be located inside The Salvation Army of Oak Creek’s Church and Community Center, will be open to the public.
“The new center will offer scheduled programming for the body, mind, and soul. Seniors will be able to participate in activities such as educational and financial lectures, health and nutrition workshops, arts and crafts, support groups, weekly hot lunches, and more.
“The center is designed to meet the needs of our area’s aging population who may or may not have financial resources to participate in other programs,” “The main objective will be to enhance and enrich the lives of seniors in our community.”
 
The Senior Center will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 
To learn more about the center, visit https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/usc/

A Salvation Army Christmas Dinner

For decades, The Salvation Army in Windsor, Ontario, has hosted an annual Christmas dinner open to everyone in the community. This year, the event took place on Dec 13th, serving over 650 guests.
While Windsor’s Centre of Hope serves a weekly Community meal, the Christmas dinner was set up differently to make the experience more special for the guests. Community Engagement Specialist, Shannon Barnwell said,
“A lot of the people that we serve might be alone, they might not have anyone to share a meal with.”
“The Christmas dinner is not just providing a meal; we do a whole Christmas experience. It’s a nice sit-down kind of atmosphere,”
 
Everyone is welcome to attend The Salvation Army Christmas dinner; however, many of the guests in attendance are individuals who are currently in challenging situations or who do not have anyone to spend the holidays with. Providing a comfortable community atmosphere is one of the goals of the event.
The Salvation Army in Windsor is committed to helping the vulnerable population struggling with food insecurity. The Centre of Hope hosts a weekly community meal every Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m.
 

The General’s New Year Message

As we enter 2024, the General of The Salvation Army, General Lyndon Buckingham offers a special new year message of encouragement.
 

Salvation Army Hamilton Service Center boosts dignity in Montana by adding showers

The Salvation Army Hamilton Service Center in Montana expanded its services to provide showers and laundry facilities, addressing a pressing need in the community and restoring dignity.
 
When a shower facility in Hamilton, Montana, closed its doors, it left individuals experiencing homelessness with no accessible public-use shower options. The sudden closure not only exacerbated the daily challenges they faced, but also exposed the need for a new, sustainable solution to address basic hygiene needs.
 
In response to the ongoing need, The Salvation Army expanded its facility to offer shower and laundry services—now the county’s only operation of its kind.
 
Service Centers address community needs through the support of dedicated directors, staff members and volunteers. Visitors can access assistance services, including food distributions, prescription support, spiritual guidance, emergency financial aid and more.
 
To learn how to find help near you or to offer your support, visit SALVATIONARMYUSA.ORG

Love Serve Disciple Podcast

From The Salvation Army, Happy New Year to you and your family. As we enter this new year, the leaders of The Salvation Army’s USA Southern Territory have launched a new podcast to share vision, goals, and encouragement.
This new direction for all that The Salvation Army does is under the umbrella of Love- Serve- Disciple.
They’ll be joining the hosts of this show on Friday to share the heart behind these priorities.
 
To listen and subscribe to this show, visit ALLFORJESUS.SALVATIONARMYSOUTH.ORG

Providing a Lifeline

Resilient 19-year-old Jessica had taken on the large responsibility of caring for her two younger siblings. She was taking any available shift at work to make ends meet, but due to surging grocery and gas prices she fell $24 short of her monthly rent payment.
 
Determined to keep a roof over her family’s heads, Jessica called her local Salvation Army to ask if they could provide any financial assistance. The volunteers at the unit immediately offered support, providing encouraging words as they reviewed her situation.
 
Filled with gratitude, Jessica met with Clay, a representative from The Salvation Army. In the meeting, Jessica explained that poverty seemed to be a never-ending pattern in her family, and she was determined to put a stop to it. However, inflation created an obstacle too large for her budget to overcome.
 
As Clay listened to Jessica, he assured her that The Salvation Army would not only help her bridge the gap in her rent payment but they would help Jessica get back on her feet.
 
If you find yourself in a similar situation, reach out to your local Salvation Army. We’re here to help. Visit SALVATIONARMYUSA.ORG to find a location near you.

Pathway of Hope

In 2022, The Salvation Army helped nearly 24 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction and economic hardships through a range of social services including providing food, shelter, emergency relief and rehabilitation programs throughout the United States. This service isn’t something that just happens by chance; we are an organization that is motivated by the love of God. 
 
The Pathway of Hope program is one way we are helping to confront the ongoing struggles of poverty and homelessness. The program focuses on providing case management to families with children who desire to break the generational cycles of crisis and vulnerability and address the root cause of poverty through education and by empowering them by giving a hand up, rather than a handout in the process of reintegration. 
 
By helping families overcome challenges like unemployment, unstable housing, and lack of education, we can lead families down a path toward increased stability and, ultimately, self-sufficiency.
 
To learn more about this powerful program- visit https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/uss/pathway-of-hope/
 

The Salvation Army Cathedral City Corps beautified by 400 Home Depot Foundation volunteers

On October 24th, 410 volunteers from The Home Depot Foundation disembarked from transport buses- ready to get to work.
 
The mission? To beautify local Salvation Army facilities along with the nearby Veterans Village housing community—locations that were chosen for The Home Depot Foundation renovation and upgrade and as co-recipients of a $200,000 beautification grant.
 
Volunteers with The Home Depot Foundation actively participate in community events and projects as part of their continued partnership with 365 Connect, a nonprofit that aims to connect corporations and donors with other nonprofit organizations to bring community change.
 
Home Depot Foundation volunteer Harold Weber—said he’s eager to lend a helping hand whenever given the opportunity.
 
“You never know whose life you may touch by doing something good,” he said. “What may take a few hours of my time is worth the timeless impact a renovation can bring.”
 
For more stories like these, visit SALVATIONARMYSOUNDCAST.ORG/SATODAY

10-year-old with a heart for helping spearheads hometown Red Kettle Campaign

Ten-year-old Cobi Roshau is on a mission. In his second season as a volunteer bellringer for The Salvation Army in Susanville California, he aims to double the dollars he collected last year.
 
Cobi’s enthusiasm for the Red Kettle Campaign has galvanized the community, with both children and adults accepting the “Cobi Challenge” to ring the bell to help others. He’s also supporting The Salvation Army Angel Tree program to ensure local children receive Christmas gifts.
 
Cobi has become something of a local celebrity, after several guest spots on the radio and a newspaper article that coined the phrase, “Be like Cobi.”
 
Cobi requested the last bellringing shift of the 2023 season, on Saturday, Dec. 23. The local radio station has set a time for him to speak on the night of Dec. 22, when he’ll give the final push for his Cobi Challenge.
 
The Salvation Army is grateful for all of its volunteers and we are so inspired and encouraged by the sweet spirt of this 10-year old bell ringer.
 
To find volunteer opportunities near you visit SALVATIONARMYUSA.ORG