Salvation Army Celebrates National Salvation Army Week With Local Events

Whitley County, IN – The Salvation Army will celebrate National Salvation Army Week May 10-16.

Founded in London England, The Salvation Army came to the United States when Lieutenant Eliza Shirley left England to join her parents, who had migrated to America in search for work. In 1879, she held the first meeting of The Salvation Army in America, in Philadelphia.  On March 10, 1880, Commissioner George Scott Railton and seven other officers arrived in New York City to begin the Army’s mission there. Three years later, Railton and other Salvationists had expanded their operation into California, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

National Salvation Army Week was officially recognized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954.  President Eisenhower stated that, “Among Americans, The Salvation Army has long been a symbol of wholehearted dedication to the cause of human brotherhood. Their work has been a constant reminder to us all that each of us is a neighbor and kin to all Americans. Giving freely of themselves, the men and women of The Salvation Army have won the respect of us all.”

To find out more information about National Salvation Army Week, the special events, or how you can make a donation to the local Salvation Army, call (260)248-1711

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Benefit concert helps Haitian earthquake victims

Shenandoah High School in Middletown, Ind. was unusually busy Saturday, March 20 with music from several choirs and bands as part of Rockin’ for Haiti – a benefit concert to help the victims of the Haitian earthquake that occurred three months ago. Sulphur Springs Christian Church sponsored the event with music ranging from Christian rock to blue grass and folk.

Church member Celeste Bramlett thought of the idea. “We had one of our youth at church just come home, literally two days from when the quake hit,” wrote Bramlett in an email about the reason for putting on this event. “He was doing mission work at one of the orphanages in Haiti. Also, my supervisor is part of a group called Safe Families and was quickly making arrangements for Haitian children who had been orphaned to stay with his family here in the states for a while. So it was really on a personal level that I wanted to help. I knew if the community got involved in the name of God, great things would happen.”

After Bramlett consulted others about putting on the concert, the support was great. “Everyone wanted to be involved,” says Bramlett.

Concert manager Lisa Hillman decided that all proceeds would go to The Salvation Army’s Haiti relief effort, knowing that all funds donated to The Salvation Army would go directly to aiding the earthquake victims. “We were able to donate $930 from the evening through both door entry and concessions,” says Hillman.

Four hours of music was heard by about 200 attendees that night. With headliner Protest for Pluto and bands The Grasshopper and Exit One9, and many individual talents, the event was a success accomplished through community involvement and compassion.

Click here to view more photos by Lisa Hillman of Rockin’ for Haiti.

American Idol Kris Allen Visits The Salvation Army In Haiti: American Idol featured Kris’s visit as a fund-raiser for the Idol Gives Back charity

Alexandria, VA – Courtesy of the United Nations, Kris Allen, the 2009 winner of American Idol, recently visited Haiti. The visit’s intention was to bring awareness to the work in Haiti as well as the continued need for support in the ongoing efforts to help those affected by the January 12 earthquake.
The Salvation Army camp in Port-Au-Prince was chosen as one of four locations for Kris to tour while on his whirlwind visit.

The camp is currently home to more than 4,000 Haitian families. Kris toured the camp, visited with staff, and played with children as well as communicated with camp residents through an interpreter.

The Salvation Army and our partner agency on the camp, Concern Worldwide, met with the most recent American Idol. Damaris Frick, Camp Manager from The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters and Major Cedric Hills, Incident Commander for Organization represented The Salvation Army and provided information to Kris as he toured the camp. He was also introduced to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Camp Committee. (The Camp Committee is formed of Haiti citizens who help provide leadership and act as liaisons for the camp residents).

During Kris’ visit, he met with Major Agnes Wahli who was busy with the registration process and issuing new ration cards as part of the new UPS Trackpad program. The Salvation Army is replacing handwritten paper index cards with high-tech barcode technology to ensure that families receive food, shelter and medical supplies in a highly efficient manner. UPS donated the technology and adapted it for disaster relief supply distribution. This technology will allow Salvation Army staff members to be able to confirm what goods each family receives by tracking the information embedded in a laminated card that bears unique barcodes associated with the family. Kris even helped with one of the registrations!

Kris’ visit ended after chatting with Concern Worldwide and visiting their mother and infant tent and singing Amazing Grace.   Last Thursday’s American Idol results show on Fox featured Kris’s visit as a fund-raiser for the Idol Gives Back charity.

Bloomington Officer Plays Key Role In Relief Efforts

Via Peter Iversen – Bloomington Salvation Army Corp

Lt. Jonathan Fitzgerald has eclipsed his half-way point in Haiti, and international generosity has been keeping him busy.

Spending most of the day ensuring supplies are shipped to the area of greatest need, Lt. Jonathan and his team of local Haitians, the U.N. and the United States military are the link between the cargo plane and the residents of tent cities. Arriving on enormous pallets, The Salvation Army ships meals, medical supplies, tents and other necessary items. From there, the supplies are trucked to multiple centers of aid throughout the country.

The largest center is in Port-au-Prince where The Salvation Army oversees the wellbeing of 20,000 Haitians living on the grounds of what used to be a soccer stadium. Lt. Jonathan spent some time walking through that tent city and what he saw was encouraging. People were smiling and going about their lives as best they could. As someone who has travelled throughout the country before, Lt. Jonathan notes that life is returning to a degree of normalcy. His presence in Haiti as a young officer who speaks the language and understands the culture makes recovery a more relational process and Haitians appreciate the work of The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army has been in Haiti since 1950 and was able to immediately respond to the earthquake. That response is ongoing as the shipments, which Lt. Jonathan and his team oversee, are still arriving in large numbers because the need is still great.

The Salvation Army’s efforts to feed and care for these families in Haiti depends on your donations. Please consider sending a donation today by using the Haiti donation button located in the upper left-hand corner of our website, or by texting “Haiti” to 52000 and $10 will be added to your monthly bill.

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