Salvation Army needs hats and mittens

Since 1865 The Salvation Army has been providing help to individuals and families who, because of problems associated with economic issues, educational obstacles, substance abuse and mental illness; find themselves homeless or in need of an array of services.

The international movement is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. “Our mission is to provide more than simply shelter and soup; our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination; by providing sustenance, opportunities — educational, recreational, cultural arts — and spiritual guidance,” explains the organization’s business administrator Tim Erlandson.

Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through an array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. Eighty two cents of every dollar spent is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide.

Dayton’s Kroc Center

I’m sure many of our readers have visited the terrific Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. The center provides facilities, programs, and services that encourage positive, life changing experiences for children and adults, strengthen families, and enrich the lives of seniors.

The Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, opened in 2010, is a lively hub of activity in Greater Old North Dayton. Residents of the entire Dayton region come to the Kroc Center for education, fitness, leisure, life-skills training and spiritual enrichment, enjoying programming that is continually evaluated and adapted to meet members’ changing needs. The Salvation Army also operates an Emergency Assistance program at the Kroc Center. This program provides cash assistance for utilities to low income people whose services have been turned off or are in jeopardy.

“In November 2014, we invested $120,000 to purchase a Mobile Canteen, to serve double duty,” says Erlandson. “When needed, it will provide food and respite for first responders and rescue workers at natural disasters. In addition, the mobile Canteen will respond to hunger issues in our community by going into Dayton-area neighborhoods to serve thousands of meals to families in need and offer educational and nutritional support.”

Wish List

New winter hats and gloves/mittens to be given out at the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas meal distribution on Dec. 22.

Take your donations to 1000 N. Keowee St., Dayton Phone: (937) 528-5100

Donations to kettles

At Christmas, the Salvation Army provides a meal to several thousand families in the greater Dayton region. Part of the funding for this meal comes directly from the monies dropped into those kettles that you see at stores throughout the area. When you hear those bells ring and you see that red kettle, drop a few dollars in to support the “giving of hope” at Christmas by helping provide a meal to a needy family.


Meredith Moss writes about the non-profit organizations in our area in need of specific items. If your group has a wish list it would like to share with our readers, contact Meredith: MMoss@coxohio.com

Please include a daytime phone number.

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