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 By
Darnell Burtin, Major Gifts Advisor/Executive
Salvation Army
What comes to mind when you first see the Salvation Army logo?
Perhaps, it's our uniformed officers ringing their bells and holding
that familiar red kettle during Christmas time. Maybe you've visited
one of our many thrift stores with the organization's signature
red and white shield on the front of the building.
Let me assure you, the mission of the Salvation Army is far more
diverse than that.
A History Lesson
You may be surprised to know the Salvation Army is one of the oldest
human and social service agencies in the world. The Salvation Army
is a faith-based, social service agency that has been meeting human
needs since 1865. It started when British minister William Booth
gave up his comfortable pulpit to take his message to the streets
of London where it would reach a group of people who needed love
and kindness far more than his parishioners: the poor, homeless,
hungry and destitute.
Booth decided to found a church especially for them: the East London
Christian Mission. Some 13 years later, Booth asked his son, Bramwell,
and good friend George Railton to read a copy of the mission's annual
report. At the top, it read: THE CHRISTIAN MISSION is A VOLUNTEER
ARMY.
Bramwell strongly objected to this wording, because he didn't believe
he was a volunteer. In fact, he was compelled to do God's work.
So, in a flash of inspiration, Booth crossed out "Volunteer"
and wrote "Salvation." That's when the Salvation Army
was truly born. The Salvation Army eventually came to the United
States in 1880 when a group of eight met in Battery Park, blocks
from where the World Trade Center would eventually stand and, 121
years later, fall.
Since it began, the Army has worked to provide food, shelter and
employment opportunities to the disadvantaged. Our mission to serve
grows and changes depending on local needs but hunger, poverty,
homelessness and addictions remain at the core of our work.
Our Growing Need
Last year, the Salvation Army's ministry throughout the United
States brought to light a diverse army of Salvationists, volunteers
and faithful donors, all committed to the fulfillment of our mission
within a rapidly changing contemporary society.
With more than 9,200 centers and 45,000 employees, the Salvation
Army touched more than 42 million people in 2003 through our integrated
avenues of worship, social services and opportunities during our
123rd consecutive year of service to Americans all across the country.
And our needs keep growing as unemployment, underemployment and
homelessness engulf more people every day.
For example:
- When you hear about the recent demolition of high-rise public
housing, do you ever wonder where all those people who once lived
there go?
- What about the gentrification movement in major urban areas
that prices common folks out of safe housing?
- How does welfare reform affect the growing problem?
All of these are crucial social issues, especially if you live
in the inner city. But, if you live in a small town, such concerns
may slide under your personal radar. But I'm sure one very recent
event--9/11--certainly didn't escape your attention. The Army has
been on the scene to help victims and caregivers during almost every
natural disaster in the United States, ever since the flood of 1900
devastated Galveston, Texas.
During 9/11, the Army established 21 stations to provide food,
toiletries, socks and medicine to aid firefighters, policemen and
rescuers, serving some 300,000 meals during the first 72 hours of
the crisis alone, according to a 2001 piece in Worth written by
novelist John Sedgwick. We took over 24 warehouses, including a
hangar at Kennedy Airport to handle the deluge of donations from
Americans like you who were willing to help.
And that's just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. Here are some
other examples of the many programs and services that the Salvation
Army provides you may not know about:
Emergency Housing
Free temporary housing is available to homeless men, women and
families in severe financial need. Low-cost housing also is available
to men and women living on pensions or social security. Drop in
centers and free meals are available year-round for the homeless.
Women and Children
The Salvation Army offers a wide range of programs for women and
their children based on individual need. Services include HIV/AIDS
counseling, transitional housing, outpatient care and parenting
classes for teen mothers, vocational guidance, daycare for working
mothers, foster care and adoption services and domestic violence
support.
Youth Services
Nearly 100,000 children and teens visit Salvation Army community
centers each year for after school programs and to participate in
other educational, recreational, social and spiritual activities.
Family Services
The goal of our family services is to strengthen and unify the
family unit, whether it is a traditional two-parent family, a blended
family or a household led by a single adult. Program services are
constantly expanding and include financial and utility assistance,
relationship counseling and employment assistance.
Prison Outreach
Through cooperative arrangements with prisons' probation and parole
officials throughout the country, the Salvation Army plays a growing
role in prison rehabilitation and crime prevention. In some jurisdictions,
prisoners are paroled to the direct custody of the Salvation Army.
To date, more than 50,000 people on probation report annually to
Army staff.
Seniors
Because Baby Boomers are the fastest growing group in the country,
our programs for older adults are more important than ever. In our
corps community centers throughout the nation, older adults gather
to share interests, develop new skills and enjoy the company of
their peers. Our Golden Diners program feeds seniors nutritional
meals at area sites or in their homes seven days a week.
Human Trafficking
The Army is actively involved in fighting this international crime
against human rights and providing services for victims. Nearly
1 million people are sold across international borders each year,
having been bought and transported in slave-like conditions for
sex and labor exploitation.
Our Work Continues
Internationally, the Salvation Army is committed to serve wherever
disaster strikes and a need exists. We were on the front line when
wildfires spread in Nigeria, when bombings occurred in Madrid, for
emergency feeding in Lesotho, when severe floods engulfed areas
in the Dominican Republic and when a volcano erupted in New Guinea.
Closer to home, during the recent California wildfires and the Midwest
tornados, our familiar disaster canteens were on site to deliver
aid to victims as well as to emergency personnel.
Through thoughtful and generous contributions, it becomes possible
for the Salvation Army to help so many people, dispensing both physical
and spiritual aid. Not only did we help 42 million Americans over
the past year, but we served more than 60 million meals, provided
over 10 million nights of lodging, delivered basic social services
to 22 million cases and welcomed more than 32 million individuals
into a variety of expressions of worship.
Through years of generosity, it is a constant joy for us to bring
light, happiness and hope to so many.
For more information about the Salvation Army, please feel free
to contact me at my Chicago office or visit the Salvation
Army's home page to learn more about the programs we offer near
you:
Darnell Burtin
Major Gift Executive
Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters
darnell_burtin@usc.salvationarmy.org
773/205-3538
773/456-3908 Cellular
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