Queen of Charities

³Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. ⁴Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”  1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)

The Salvation Army’s Queen of Charities Pageant celebrates the inner beauty of the participants.  Volunteer Program Coordinator, Jama Young stated, “The Salvation Army wanted to put on a fundraiser that embraced beauty, but also encouraged young ladies to become more active in our community. So many of our programs depend on the strength of women. We thought it would be great to have a pageant  solely showcasing that strength, as well as the intelligence and poise that many of our volunteers possess.”

The pageant will be held on April 18, 2010. The last day to register for this event is Monday, March 8.

Contestants, ages 16-30, will be judged on poise, character, charitable works, formal wear and an interview which is worth 50% of the total score.

There are several categories a contestant can win: Miss Photogenic, Miss Congeniality, Most Sponsors, Audience Choice Award, First and Second runner ups and Miss Queen of Charities.

Each young woman who participates will receive a gift bag from our various sponsors; photo shoot and a 5×7 framed pageant photo; complementary meals available during all pageant events; professional hair, nail and make up services the day of the pageant; and a certificate of pageant participation.

For additional information, contest rules and an application, please call (260) 744-2311 or contact Jama_Young@usc.salvationarmy.org.

Click here for updates on the Queen of Charities Pageant.

Salvation Army Mobilizing Personnel, Resources to Aid with Haiti Relief

Army school, clinic damaged; staff on-site organizing emergency response

Salvation Army Haiti Divisional Commander Major Lucien Lamartiniere (left) speaks with Disaster Services Director Bob Poff (right).

The Salvation Army is mobilizing resources and personnel to assist with the international relief effort in Haiti following a severe earthquake Tuesday that damaged much of the country’s infrastructure, housing and commercial buildings.

 The Salvation Army has had a presence in Haiti since 1950 and currently operates schools, clinics, a hospital, feeding programs, children’s homes and church-related activities spread across two major facilities in Port au Prince, close to the epicenter of the earthquake and at other locations in the country.

 One of the facilities includes a home for more than 50 children; a school with a daily attendance of 1,500 children; a medical clinic caring for 150-200 people daily; and a church that on any typical Sunday welcomes nearly 1,000 people. The facility is less than 10 minutes from the National Palace and is in an area known as home to predominantly poor living in the nation’s capital. 

 The Salvation Army’s World Services Office, based in Alexandria, VA, has committed $50,000 to the relief effort and the organization is prepared to commit more financial resources, as well as food, water and other emergency supplies, to assist in the recovery. Our world services office is preparing to send more than 44,000 lbs of pre-packaged emergency rations to the country, along with emergency disaster teams. The Salvation Army is working with other agencies to identify appropriate transportation for the food. As with all such relief efforts, The Salvation Army will be a part of the initial emergency response while assessing longer term needs of the residents.

  “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti at this time and especially our Salvation Army officers and employees throughout the country,” said Lt. Col. Dan Starrett, who directs the Salvation Army World Services Office.

Neighbors find rest near the Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters in Haiti.

Destruction near the La Maison du Bonheur (The Home of Happiness) Salvation Army children's home in Haiti. The home is the yellow building in the back left corner.

Christmas Assistance

With the help of so many, we were able to serve families in need during the Christmas season.  It was a rough year for everyone, but our community stepped up to make sure help was available.

1,618 families received Christmas assistance.