A quarterly look at the Corps Social Services progr ams
Doing the Most Good Winter 2015, issue 7
*Members of the West Salem SIT Team ring bells during The Battle of the Bells
At a Glance Christmas Toy & Joy Project
Goal Achieved with Community Support
What an amazing community we live in!
Being new to the
Marion/Polk County area, I was not sure what to expect when we started our red kettle campaign this year. I am impressed!
Dallas Adopt-A-Family Christmas & Thanksgiving at the Lighthouse Shelter Holiday Donors
We had more volunteers than I have ever seen and the community donations were right on target. It is truly a blessing to be here and to receive this level of support for our social service programs. I would like to thank our many volunteers and donors for making this red kettle campaign a great success. We reached our campaign goal! Having the resources to help our neighbors in need makes the helping process so much more effective. You made that possible. Thank you for your trust and confidence.
*Kroc Commmunity Center staff ring bells at Fred Meyer in North Salem
Major John Stennett
Christmas Toy & Joy Project Served over 1,000 families again this year
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Between the two days, 1,114 households were served. In all, 3,573 children received two toys each. Families also took home a meal of turkey or chicken, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, rolls, and dessert. Volunteers guided each family through the “shopping style” event, letting them choose toys that their children would enjoy. After picking their toys, they were given a Christmas Meal, selected a book from the Reading for All table generously provided by United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley, and were walked out to their cars. Everyone helping in the event could feel the love and support of the community.
partner with The Salvation Army, coordinated barrel sites at about a dozen local restaurants. I-5 Entertainment held a karaoke competition, collecting toys instead of an entry fee. Shoppers at Lancaster Mall were able to select Angel Tags from the tree and make a child feel the joy on Christmas. The Salem/Keizer School District children collected canned foods while District departments collected toys. The Salem Fire Department held their annual toy drive at Shopko, handing out candy canes and encouraging shoppers to give. Employees at Performance Health Technology were not shy about buying toys for children and the company matched their gifts which allowed us to shop for teenagers. A special thank you to Andy Grimmer with the Salem Fire Department. As a a longtime supporter, he connected with the Les Schwab in Salem which generated an extremely generous toy drive.
Gathering toys to serve all of these families was no small feat! With over 1,000 families who had applied for help we were worried that we would run out of toys. Many community partners held toy drives, hosted toy collection barrels, gave money, and adopted families. Sysco, a new
A special thank you to the Statesman Journal and Keizer Times who wrote wonderful stories letting the community know there was still a need and how to become involved. Toys continued to be dropped off up to the last day of distribution. Because of our community’s gen-
n December 17 and 18, families steadily poured through the Christmas warehouse to receive toys and food for Christmas day while the volunteers were there to greet them, shop with them, and help them to their cars.
Dallas Adopt-A-Family T
hrough the coordinated efforts of The Salvation Army and many Dallas area partners, 195 families were matched with donors this holiday season. The Dallas Adopt-A-Family project, a longstanding tradition in Dallas, serves both those in need and those looking for a meaningful way to give back during the holiday season. Donors have the opportunity to buy food and at least one toy for each child in the family they adopt. Churches, schools, service organizations, businesses, and community members all stepped up to adopt every family that applied for Christmas help. On the day of distribution, families arrived and were greeted by a band of smiling vol-
D a l l a s
a
family
unteers. These volunteers eagerly greeted, socialized with, and assisted families in carrying Christmas boxes to their cars. Each left not only with presents, but with the feeling that they were loved and accepted by their community.
*Client chooses gift during Christmas Toy & Joy Project Distribution
erous support we were able to make sure every child was served. Thank you to all who partnered with us in this project. To the generous donors who believe that every person deserves joy on Christmas and to the volunteers who treated each guest with dignity and respect, thank you.
Bev Schrag, Vicki Kibbey and Melissa Baurer —without which this project would not be feasible. Futhermore, we would like to thank Evangelical Bible Church for hosting distribution, James W Fowler Company for printing our materials, and Polk County Academy Building for hosting application sign ups. We consider ourselves blessed to be involved in this project and in this community. Thank you for your support!
A special thank you to all who participated in this project! We could not have served 195 families without the generous donors of the Dallas community. We would also like to thank the Dallas Adopt-A-Family committee— Judy Jeffreys, Vickie Boer, Michelle Bornfleth, Jim and Candace Fowler, Dana Goodale, Krista Duval, *Overview of Dallas Adopt -a-Family Distribution
Lighthouse Shelter
Quarterly Stats
5524 158 2513 1307 4040 8999 4497
(September - December)
brings Hope and Stability
Food boxes
Maria Gonzalez lived in the Lighthouse Shelter for 4 months before moving into her new apartment just before last Thanksgiving. Here is her story.
Financial Assistance households
Maria was born in Mexico and moved to Salem in 1996 to be close to family. She found work and a place to live and thrived here for many years. But after a series of events, she found herself homeless for the first time in her life.
Families served for first time this year
The problems started when her legal status papers she renews each year did not arrive in time and as a result she was unable to keep her job at Wal-mart. Because she didn’t have her papers she was not eligible for unemployment benefits or food stamps. Unable to pay her bills, she was evicted from her apartment. Although she had been sober for eight years, Maria relapsed.
Christmas Assistance Volunteer Hours
After spending the night homeless and sleeping outside for the first time, someone told her about the Salvation Army Lighthouse Shelter. After Maria moved in, she first shared a room with 2 women, but felt she needed more privacy. She met with her Case Manager and explained she is transgender (meaning, she feels and lives as a woman, but has not completed all the medical procedures). Fortunately, the Shelter could accommodate her and she moved into a room that afforded her more privacy.
LIghthouse Shelter
(September - December)
Meals Provided
Maria shared that the staff at the Shelter were very nice and respectful, and she was treated very well by the staff and residents. She lived at the Shelter for 4 months, working with her case manager on the goals they set for her, attending bible study, the Enlightened Ladies and Overcomers Group, and volunteering in the food pantry.
Lodging Nights Provided
Join Us for a Community Banquet On Friday, February 20th at 6pm, Salem Alliance Church
Maria says God has blessed her with so many beautiful things—The Salvation Army, sobriety, a new job and apartment. She thanks God for The Salvation Army and her blessings.
and The Salvation Army will host the 2nd Annual Community Banquet. Please join as we gather to celebrate our neighborhood and the diversity within it. A free sit-down meal will be served and all are welcome. Salem Alliance is located at 555 Gaines St NE, Salem and the meal will be served in Cedar Hall.
Lighthouse Shelter Wish List
Family Services Wish List
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New pillows College-style twin bed sheets Unused Hygiene products Men’s business clothes (for interviews) Shaving razors Small Cork Boards
Non-parishable foods (canned goods, dried foods, pasta, rice, etc.) Dairy products Empty egg cartons Baby supplies (diapers, formula, food, wipes) Clean plastic or paper bags
Lighthouse Shelters Latest: New Case Managers
In December, the lighthouse shelter welcomed two new case
managers! Grace Crabb came to us with extensive experience working with adolescents, particularly homeless youth. She grew up in Portland and has her Bachelors in Social Work from George Fox University. She says, “I wanted to work for the Salvation Army because I was excited about working for an organization that combines faith and social services.”
Tracy Ray left his ministerial career in Hawaii to work here as a case manager. He has a Masters of Divinity in Theology and a Doctorate in Christian Counseling and hopes to apply this knowledge and experience to this job working with our shelter residents. He says, “I enjoy the opportunity to help people as a TSA case manager.” Welcome to the team Grace and Tracy!
*Tracy Ray Lighthouse Shelter Case Manger
*Grace Crabb Lighthouse Shelter Case Manager
Lighthouse Shelter Tours
Tours of the Lighthouse Shelter are currently being scheduled and we encourage you to schedule one for yourself or your organization! If you are interested in a tour, please contact Jo Ellen Legg: joellen.legg@usw.salvationarmy.org or call (503) 798-4843.
Salem Social Services
Monday - Friday 9am - 12pm 1977 Front St NE, Salem, OR 97301 mailing: PO Box 7047, Salem, OR 97303 (503) 585-6688 www.salvationarmysalem.org
New Gr ants Create New Possibilites
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wo new grants will allow for more clients to be served than ever before! The Salem Health Grant of $50,000 will go directly towards hiring a third case manager. More specifically, it allows us to hire a Qualified Mental Health Professional who can better support our shelter residents who are experiencing mental illness. That means more individuals can stay at the shelter without overloading the current case managers. Be on the lookout for another new face at social services in the coming months! The Maybelle Clark MacDonald Fund also awarded $50,000 for the purchase of food for the shelter and food pantry. Much of the food in those departments is donated, however there are items we consistently need that are not always available and must be purchased, such as cereal, grains, and protein items. This grant will allow us to better serve those accessing food through our services. We are excited to begin utilizing these funds and expanding our services to accommodate more community members!
Q&A
How often may I come in and shop for food? Individuals and families seeking food assistance are encouraged to visit the Salem Family Services office, located at 1977 Front St. NE. This office is open Monday - Friday from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Households are able to come once a month. To learn more, call (503) 585-6688