Salvation Army Service Units

Cindy Surline and Club President Mark Clement with Kim Howell and Sam Reeder of the Salvation Army

   Cindy Surline introduced Kim Howell and Sam Reeder, both of the Salvation Army.  Kim is responsible for operations from Buffalo to Syracuse, from Lake Ontario down to Pennsylvania - for all the Service Units, and, having started in February, full time, is learning the ropes and all the Salvation Army does.  She says that means she learns something twice a week that she didn't know.  "Service Units" are active in areas where there is no Salvation Army center.  At present there is an effort to rebuild and restructure in Wayne County, so the need for volunteers is high.  Approximately 90 % of the money collected (remember the red kettles?) ends up right in the area - and in the Empire State Division of Upstate New York there are 203 service unit programs.  They are made up of hundreds of volunteers who provide social services assistance to residents in rural and suburban areas all across the state. 

   Last year, service units helped more than 45,300 people  through services like emergency disaster relief, rent and utility assistance, sending kids to summer camp, and food and clothing support.

   Howell says she is in need of "eyes and ears" in our community, as there is no committee set up here.  Roles on such a team include: chairperson, treasurer, community service rep, kettle coordinator, camp coordinator and general committee member. 

   She surprised many listeners when she described Long Point Camp in Penn Yan, off Rt. 14, as a free camp for children in need (various meanings).  It runs from Monday to Saturday, and there will be an open house on May 14th from 1to 3 p.m.  This year's camp runs for two weeks - July 11th - 16th or the 25th - 30th.  Some 192 spaces are available on a first-come-first-served basis for the first week and 96 for the 2nd week.  Please contact Ann Vail with questions at avail@use.salvationarmy.org or 315 - 434-1371.  Kimberly can be reached at kimberly.howell@use.salvationarmy.org.  (315) 382-1451