Major Mark Anderson from the Salvation Army shared with us about what the Salvation Army has been doing in helping the people of Ukraine. There are 9 Salvation Units in Ukraine, plus those in Poland, Russia and surround area who have been helping the people of Ukraine get housing, food, etc. The Salvation Army has also been partnering with other organizations, as well as, Rotary to get help for those displaced in Ukraine because of the war.
Major Anderson also brought with him an Intern, Matt Carter, who will be working for one year in Lincoln. Then Matt will be going on to school and learning more about the Salvation Army. Major Anderson told us that they have seen a record number of people sign up for food baskets already for Christmas and for toys for children. At Thanksgiving time, they gave out approximately 600 food baskets to families. They currently working on getting ready for Christmas with their food baskets, but toys and stocking stuffers for families. They have also been able to give a family $750/family help with utility bills.
Here is a bit more about the history of the Salvation Army and some of the other programs that they assist families and individuals:
The Salvation Army Mission Statement: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
The Salvation Army has been pursuing their mission since 1865. The Salvation Army was established in Lincoln, NE in 1888. It’s current location is at 27th & Holdrege St. They have assisted approximately 25 million Americans annually and serve in 131 countries around the globe. They have over 1.8 million members consisting of officers, soldiers and adherents. They help meet human needs without discrimination.
A few of the services they offer in Lincoln, Nebraska is to 1) Overcome poverty, 2) Cure hunger, 3) Empower youth, 4) Fight for justice, 5) Help disaster survivors, 6) Combat addiction, 7) Share God’s Love, and 8) Meet the greatest needs of individuals or families.
Here are a few of the ways they help individuals or families through our donations:
Overcoming Poverty:
Pathway of Hope
The goal of Pathway of Hope is to guide families with children 18 years and younger through crisis and instability to a place of security in order to ultimately break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. We offer strengths-based casework, providing services such as: 1) financial counseling and planning; 2) goal setting with manageable action steps; 3) job training, referrals and employment assistance; 4) assistance with securing housing and childcare; and 5) emotional and spiritual support .
The goal of Pathway of Hope is to guide families with children 18 years and younger through crisis and instability to a place of security in order to ultimately break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. We offer strengths-based casework, providing services such as: 1) financial counseling and planning; 2) goal setting with manageable action steps; 3) job training, referrals and employment assistance; 4) assistance with securing housing and childcare; and 5) emotional and spiritual support .
Pathway of Hope works with people where they are, offering practical guidance to help families overcome obstacles and achieve their big-picture goals, one step at a time.
Material & Utility Assistance & Seasonal Services
We serve low- to no-income individuals and families by providing household items, prescription medications, diapers, gas, clothing, laundromat vouchers, utilities and rent assistance, and funds for car and home repairs or medical expenses. Seasonal services include the Summer Fan Program, Back to School Backpack Program and Christmas and Thanksgiving Assistance.
No one should have to choose between heating their home during the frigid winter months and putting food on the table, and yet, sadly, many are forced to make that very choice. That's why we are grateful to work with Black Hills Energy to offer utility assistance via HeatShare funds. Each year approximately 300 households receive utility assistance and more than 850 families receive holiday assistance such as toys, gifts, winterwear and food baskets.
Food Programs
We offer a number of food programs, including a pantry and a mobile food distribution program during the winter.
We offer a number of food programs, including a pantry and a mobile food distribution program during the winter.
Cure Hunger:
Food Pantry
Our food pantry is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9-4 p.m. and Tuesday and Friday 9-3 p.m., with a produce and bread distribution Tuesdays and Fridays from 10-11 a.m. The pantry serves more than 8,000 individuals each year who are homeless, at risk of being homeless or low-income by providing a selection of nutritious food. Individuals and families are able to choose the foods most appropriate for their particular needs.
Our food pantry is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9-4 p.m. and Tuesday and Friday 9-3 p.m., with a produce and bread distribution Tuesdays and Fridays from 10-11 a.m. The pantry serves more than 8,000 individuals each year who are homeless, at risk of being homeless or low-income by providing a selection of nutritious food. Individuals and families are able to choose the foods most appropriate for their particular needs.
Winter Night Watch
Winter Night Watch makes frigid nights safer and a little more bearable for the homeless and near-homeless in Lincoln. The mobile food distribution service is stationed at Center Point on Saturday nights from October through April to provide a hot meal and beverages, as well as winter outwear to people in need. Winter Night Watch serves nearly 5,000 meals during the six months it operates each year.
Winter Night Watch makes frigid nights safer and a little more bearable for the homeless and near-homeless in Lincoln. The mobile food distribution service is stationed at Center Point on Saturday nights from October through April to provide a hot meal and beverages, as well as winter outwear to people in need. Winter Night Watch serves nearly 5,000 meals during the six months it operates each year.
Empowering Youth:
Research shows that in Nebraska and across America, 1 in 5 kids are alone and unsupervised from 3 to 6 p.m.
Our after-school basketball and fine arts programs benefit both children and parents, offering kids a safe place to work on their homework, receive tutoring, socialize with their friends, exercise and enjoy music and art classes. Moms and dads can enjoy peace of mind at their jobs, knowing their children are safe and well cared for after school is dismissed. Many of the elementary and middle school students who participate in our after-school, sports and music programs would not otherwise have access to such opportunities. These programs provide unique, enriching experiences, offer the benefits of positive mentor relationships and expand the worlds of those enrolled.
After-school Program
Our after-school program provides comprehensive educational activities, such as homework help, exercise, tutoring, literacy-building, Bible study, organized sports, and arts and crafts as well as nutritious meals to nearly 100 kids in kindergarten through 5th grade during non-school hours. The program operates Monday through Friday from 3-7 p.m., with a Teen Night each Friday from 8-10 p.m.
Our after-school program provides comprehensive educational activities, such as homework help, exercise, tutoring, literacy-building, Bible study, organized sports, and arts and crafts as well as nutritious meals to nearly 100 kids in kindergarten through 5th grade during non-school hours. The program operates Monday through Friday from 3-7 p.m., with a Teen Night each Friday from 8-10 p.m.
Character Building Programs
Our character building programs offer the opportunity for kids to develop strong communication and leadership skills, grow their minds, and explore God's Word, all while having fun and connecting with their peers. Groups meet Mondays from 6-7 p.m. and include the following: 1) Sunbeams - girls in kindergarten through fifth grade; 2) Girl Guards - girls in sixth through 12th grades, 3) Rangers - boys in kindergarten through fifth grade, and 4) Explorers - boys in sixth through 12th grades.
Our character building programs offer the opportunity for kids to develop strong communication and leadership skills, grow their minds, and explore God's Word, all while having fun and connecting with their peers. Groups meet Mondays from 6-7 p.m. and include the following: 1) Sunbeams - girls in kindergarten through fifth grade; 2) Girl Guards - girls in sixth through 12th grades, 3) Rangers - boys in kindergarten through fifth grade, and 4) Explorers - boys in sixth through 12th grades.
Shield Fine Arts Academy
Music teaches discipline and creativity, encourages self-confidence, and helps to develop interpersonal skills and responsibility. We offer weekly fine arts lessons and classes free of charge, including the use of an instrument, to 70-80 children and adults in brass, guitar, ukulele, percussion, piano, vocal, and music fundamentals. Classes may also include Tuneful Toddlers, dance, and summer music opportunities. The schedule of The Shield Fine Arts Academy changes each semester due to instructor availability, class size and difficulty, and registration numbers.
Music teaches discipline and creativity, encourages self-confidence, and helps to develop interpersonal skills and responsibility. We offer weekly fine arts lessons and classes free of charge, including the use of an instrument, to 70-80 children and adults in brass, guitar, ukulele, percussion, piano, vocal, and music fundamentals. Classes may also include Tuneful Toddlers, dance, and summer music opportunities. The schedule of The Shield Fine Arts Academy changes each semester due to instructor availability, class size and difficulty, and registration numbers.
Small Fry Basketball
Approximately 300+ kids in third through seventh grades participate in Small Fry Basketball. The program, which has been in operation for nearly 60 years, focuses on building character, along with teaching basketball skills and offering competition under the direction of experienced coaches. The Small Fry Basketball season is held November through April on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 6-9:30 pm. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Approximately 300+ kids in third through seventh grades participate in Small Fry Basketball. The program, which has been in operation for nearly 60 years, focuses on building character, along with teaching basketball skills and offering competition under the direction of experienced coaches. The Small Fry Basketball season is held November through April on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 6-9:30 pm. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Summer Camps
Summer can be a challenging time for working parents who might not have the financial resources to pay for childcare or expensive camps. We offer a safe environment where kids can thrive during summer vacation while parents are at work. More than 65 students in kindergarten through fifth grade are enrolled in our summer day camps, which offer low-cost, fun and educational recreation, including arts and crafts, sports, swimming and field trips. Students in first through 12th grade also enroll in off-site overnight camps each summer where they experience nature, connect with others and learn leadership skills. Themed weeks are also offered throughout the summer, including Music Camp, Teen Camp and Outdoor Camp.
Summer can be a challenging time for working parents who might not have the financial resources to pay for childcare or expensive camps. We offer a safe environment where kids can thrive during summer vacation while parents are at work. More than 65 students in kindergarten through fifth grade are enrolled in our summer day camps, which offer low-cost, fun and educational recreation, including arts and crafts, sports, swimming and field trips. Students in first through 12th grade also enroll in off-site overnight camps each summer where they experience nature, connect with others and learn leadership skills. Themed weeks are also offered throughout the summer, including Music Camp, Teen Camp and Outdoor Camp.
Fight for Justice:
Human trafficking is the exploitation of a person for compelled labor or a commercial sex act through force, fraud or coercion. Those who have been trafficked work for an individual who has either tricked them or used threats against the survivor or someone the survivor cares about in order to get them to engage in sexual activity or forced labor. Money, favors, drugs or other items of value are exchanged for these services, but typically the survivor sees little to no profit for their work. In the case of sex trafficking, often traffickers promise a romantic relationship to lead women and men into sex work for their own personal gain.
Anti-human Trafficking -- Via its corps leaders, The Salvation Army works to support individuals in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota who have experienced or are experiencing human trafficking. Our vision is to see survivors of human trafficking supported in accessing services that support their safety, well-being and self-sufficiency. We do this by providing individualized case management support to those experiencing human trafficking, facilitating and assisting in referrals to community services and collaborating with local, regional and statewide partners to strengthen survivor access to culturally appropriate services. We provide resources such as emergency or long-term housing, food, clothing, emotional support and counseling, healthcare, drug and alcohol treatment, childcare, transportation, help navigating the immigration system, education and employment opportunities, legal assistance and help setting goals.
Combat Addiction:
More than 6,500 people are hospitalized for substance abuse each day in the U.S. Often addiction to alcohol or drugs is kept hidden, which means although you probably aren't aware of it, you undoubtedly know someone in your own workplace, neighborhood or even in your own family who is battling an addiction.
Counseling and support groups - Our Adult Rehabilitation Centers offer one-on-one and group counseling with licensed substance abuse counselors, as well as support groups, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, work therapy and spiritual counseling. Those enrolled in one of our rehabilitation programs also benefit from the encouraging environment and peer support.
Education and job training - Our adult rehabilitation program ministers to the whole person, which means we offer not only addiction counseling, but also the skills and training needed for successful re-entry into society. Components of the program include anger management training, chemical dependency education, relapse prevention classes, job training, and referrals to GED programs and employment opportunities after graduation from the program.
Housing - Our Adult Rehabilitation Centers provide safe and comfortable housing, nutritious meals, and recreational and social activities that allow residents to connect socially with peers.
Spiritual sustenance - Rehabilitation is the process of helping to restore individuals to their best possible selves. We believe a critical component to healthy living includes a rich spiritual life, which is why we emphasize Christian education, with the hope that each individual will develop or deepen his relationship with God.
Sharing God’s Love:
Fifty-nine percent of disaster survivors wish to receive spiritual support or prayer from a clergy member or religious counselor. Our clergy members are often some of the first people to arrive at the scene of a disaster and are prepared to offer those in crisis the spiritual sustenance they need.
We aspire to be a lamp to the feet and a light to the path of all those who are suffering and in need of help and hope. The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Our message is based on the Bible, our ministry is motivated by the love of God, and our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ as we meet human needs in His name without discrimination. Every program we offer is rooted in our passion to serve God by serving the lost, the vulnerable, the poor, the hurting, the helpless and the hopeless.