HELP THE SALVATION ARMY BRING THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS TO A CHILD

Written by Carl Dameron on November 22, 2011. Posted in The Salvation Army

Arlene and Priscilla Delgado, ages 4 and 8, each used their savings to purchase Christmas toys for a less fortunate child through the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corp’s Giving Tree program at Inland Center Mall. Help the Salvation Army obtain more toys for children in need by going to the Giving Tree near the mall’s Food Court. Photo by Kelly Silvestri-Raabe

To share Christmas joy with a deserving child, come to Inland Center Mall and select a tag indicating a child’s age, sex and gift preference. Or find and order a gift for a local child online at jcp.com/angel. Photo by Carl Dameron

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calf.) It might seem like a very small gesture in the grand scheme of things, but when the local Salvation Army Corps (www.salvationarmyusa.org) and several businesses annually join forces to make the holiday season memorable for the needy children of the Inland Empire, it makes a huge difference in so many lives.
Known as the Angel Giving Tree programs, it revolves around actual Christmas trees, which are set up in local malls the day after Thanksgiving to match shoppers with the hundreds of children in each location who are relying on the Salvation Army this year to bring them a Merry Christmas.
Shoppers wishing to participate will find attached to branches of the tree cards with the names of children whose families simply cannot afford to buy gifts. Shoppers who want to take part by helping disadvantaged children simply pluck a tag off the Giving Tree, read the child’s name and wish list, and then head for the appropriate store for a little sharing of their own.
“This is a great way to start a tradition with your own family, by selecting a gift for a needy child together. The gifts are based on their individual wishes and for some children, it may be the only gift they receive all year,” said Major Nancy Ball of the San Bernardino Corps of The Salvation Army.
San Bernardino Corps puts its Giving Tree in the Inland Center Mall (500 Inland Center Drive, San Bernardino) near the food court.
The Ontario Corps puts trees in front of JC Penney’s at the Montclair Plaza (5060 E. Montclair Plaza Lane, Montclair) inside the Macy’s store. The Redlands Corps puts a tree at Wal-Mart (2050 W. Redlands Blvd., Redlands).
However, not all corps have actual trees. The Riverside Corps asks shoppers to call (951) 784-4490, ext. 100 to obtain the name of and requests of more than 3,000 children on its “Angel” list.
Since online shopping is also a popular way to buy Christmas gifts, JC Penney’s has a partnership with the Salvation Army allowing shoppers to go to jcp.com/angel and search for children (and in some places senior citizens) in any ZIP Code. The website allows online shoppers to order a gift for them from JC Penney’s online catalog, and gives them the choice of dropping the gift off at their local Salvation Army’s collection center, or of having UPS ship it, at no charge, to that collection center.
The Salvation Army also is looking for other businesses in both San Bernardino and Riverside counties, who would like to have a tree at their place of business for employees and/or customers.
To host an Angel Tree in San Bernardino, Colton, Grand Terrace, Rialto, Bloomington or Highland, call (909) 888-1336. Elsewhere, call 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.
“Soccer balls, dolls and clothes are just a few items on each child’s wish list,” said Major Ball. “Shoppers who participate in the program are encouraged to shop for more than what is needed on the list. I can’t think of a better way for business owners and managers to help the community and spread the spirit of Christmas.”
Salvation Army volunteers make sure the presents are earmarked for each specific child.
About the Salvations Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.
The San Bernardino Corps serves: Bloomington, Colton, Grand Terrace, Highland, Rialto and San Bernardino.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian church and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.
For local help, please call (909) 888-1336.

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Providing Thanksgiving Dinner for Needy Families

Written by Carl Dameron on November 15, 2011. Posted in The Salvation Army

Last year Sandy and Mike Rowles passed out cold drinks to guests at the Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving dinner. The couple came from Fontana to volunteer. Photo by Ricardo Tombac

A happy crew of volunteers pauses while serving meals from the kitchen at a previous Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving Dinner. Photo by Ricardo Tombac

(San Bernardino, Calif.) This Thanksgiving, the San Bernardino Corps of the Salvation Army will once again provide Thanksgiving dinner to help the needy families of the Inland Empire.
The San Bernardino Corps will serve dinner from 11 am to 1 pm on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 24, at its Corps headquarters building, 746 West Fifth St.
“Times are really tough for everyone, especially at this time of year when people really need an extra hand to get them through the holiday season,” said Major Nancy Ball, San Bernardino Corps officer. “We have a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner planned, complete with turkey, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, vegetables and pie.”
The annual Thanksgiving meal brings in hundreds of families and individuals who do not have the means to provide themselves a Thanksgiving dinner. People come from throughout the Inland Empire for the celebration. The San Bernardino event has traditionally served close to 400 people in one year.
The hungry families are joined by hundreds of volunteers for the day who help prepare the food and serve meals to the families. Along with sending out a call to volunteers to help serve, the Salvation Army is encouraging people to donate turkeys or hams, side dishes and other food by calling (909) 888-4880.
“An effort of this magnitude is not a one person show,” said Major Ball. “Volunteers are needed to help prepare and serve the food along with decorating the facility. It is truly is a community effort in making this event a success. Thanksgiving should be a special day for everyone, not just for those who can afford it.”
Other Salvation Army Corps in the Inland Empire are also planning Thanksgiving dinners. Dates, times and locations are as follows:

Salvation Army Redlands Nov. 24th from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Salvation Army Riverside Nov. 23rd from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Salvation Army Moreno Valley Nov. 24th from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm
Salvation Army Ontario Nov. 24th from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Salvation Army Victor Valley Nov. 25th from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm

To receive more information about the dates and times for the dinners at San Bernardino Salvation Army and other corps, or to volunteer please call 1800-SAL-ARMY or 1-800-725-2769.
About the Salvations Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.
The San Bernardino Corps serves: Bloomington, Colton, Grand Terrace, Highland, Rialto and San Bernardino.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian church and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.
For local help, please call (909) 888-1336.

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THE SALVATION ARMY’S DUAL MISSIONS HELP SAN BERNARDINO

Written by Carl Dameron on March 30, 2011. Posted in The Salvation Army

James Lee, Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center's Resident Manager, oversees the 125-bed residence and non-working hour activities of the men enrolled in the program's drug and alcohol treatment program. Photo by Chris Sloan

Priscilla Luna is a Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center of San Bernardino warehouse employee working in the laundry area. While Priscilla is one of the paid employees, who are male and female, most of the workers in this warehouse are men enrolled in the Adult Rehabilitation Center drug and alcohol treatment program. The warehouse is a central processing and distribution center for seven thrift stores in San Bernardino County, plus one in Pomona, all of which support the Center’s program. Photo By Chris Sloan

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) In San Bernardino, The Salvation Army is known for helping people to have better lives. Many of these are men overcoming drug and alcohol addiction who benefit from the services of The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center.
The San Bernardino Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center is a 120-bed treatment center operating at 363 S. Doolittle Road, serving men from throughout San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County’s Pomona Valley.
The six-month program is for men, known as beneficiaries, who have completed the detoxification process and are ready to leave their drug or alcohol addiction behind. The program helps them to begin a new and better life.
“We teach them to feel good and confident about their lives,” said Jack Katzman, president of the Adult Rehabilitation Center advisory board. “They learn work ethics, how to dress properly, and how to make eye contact when speaking to others. We teach them to look beyond their past, and to look forward to a future with a renewed life. We teach them these values because the Salvation Army’s mission is changing people’s lives for the better.”
The Adult Rehabilitation Center provides one-on-one and group counseling, meetings for Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous and recreational activities for the beneficiaries to enjoy as part of their new sober lifestyle.
“We have a basketball court, a batting cage, a pool table, air hockey and an outdoor weight room,” said Residence Director James Lee. “There’s also a dining room with a restaurant-style kitchen where they eat like kings and a canteen where they can snack between meals.”
They enjoy all of these things when they’re not at work. With very few exceptions, residents of the Adult Rehabilitation Center put in a full day helping with their residences’ primary means of raising money.
The Adult Rehabilitation Center operates seven used goods stores, known as Salvation Army Family Stores. These stores are located in San Bernardino (one on E Street, another on Highland Avenue,) Pomona, Fontana, Redlands, Hesperia and Victorville.
The Family Stores raise almost all of the program’s revenue and teach the treatment center’s residents new job skills, thus helping them become more productive members of society after they complete the program. The beneficiaries learn the value of working hard, cooperating with others and having goals.
The treatment center is next to a warehouse and the offices of the Adult Rehabilitation Center. The center has operated the warehouse there since the 1980s, in a building that previously served as a distribution center for PepsiCo.
The Salvation Army accepts donations of any household items at its warehouse, including vehicles and furniture. Most items can also be donated at its stores, except for vehicles, furniture and large appliances. Donors also can arrange for The Salvation Army to pick up items by calling 1-800-SATRUCK, which is 1-800-728-7825.
Most of the men at the Adult Rehabilitation Center have the job of receiving and refurbishing Salvation Army donations before shipping them to the stores. This involves cleaning items, determining clothing sizes, and making minor repairs.
“When something comes into our warehouse, we refurbish the product, we repair the product, we make it look good,” said Victoria Bennett, administrative secretary for the Adult Rehabilitation Center. “Some of the men are very skilled. So of course we will put those skills to work.”
For instance, some men come with the carpentry skills necessary to repair broken furniture. Others can fix torn upholstery, or troubleshoot a malfunctioning piece of electronics equipment. As a result, most of The Salvation Army’s donations, even if they weren’t top quality when they arrived, can be sent to the used goods stores in an almost-new condition.
“Most of the donations we receive are really nice,” Bennett said. “Some of them are junk.”
Many items damaged beyond repair can still be salvaged in a different way. The Adult Rehabilitation Center sells tattered clothing donations as rags and puts irreparable appliances and electronics in its “as-is” bin. The public may come to the warehouse any non-holiday weekday before 9 a.m. to bid on the defective items in the as-is bin.
“Most people buy these items just for the parts,” Bennett said.
The warehouse is also a place to buy used cars, trucks and other vehicles. The Adult Rehabilitation Center accepts donations of these vehicles, then fixes them so they are safe to operate and are smog-certified.
It sells them to anyone who is in need of quality used transportation, often at prices lower than a similar vehicle would cost on a commercial used car lot. These vehicles can be purchased 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“All of the Family Store proceeds and the warehouse sales support the rehabilitation program,” said Katzman. “We receive no government funding.”
About 70 of the 120 men living at the Adult Rehabilitation Center work in the warehouse, along with 16 paid employees. Additional residents work as assistants to one of the 12 paid Salvation Army truck drivers, and one to two residents work in each store along with a much larger paid staff.
The remainder of the residents either have “jobs” in the treatment center itself, or because of illness (not related to their addictions) or injury, are medically excused from work.
“They work at the front desk, in the kitchen, in the laundry or in the canteen,” Lee said. “Everyone who can work has a job.”
Adult Rehabilitation Center has operated the warehouse and distribution center on Doolittle Road for about 25 years. In March 2009, it realized a long-time goal of having both parts of its ministry in one place, when it moved its treatment center to a newly constructed adjacent building.
“It had been the goal of our former advisory board president, John Tillman, to have both of these programs together,” said Katzman, who has served as advisory board president since Tillman’s death in 2001. “We had purchased the land just before he died, so I took over that project. After several years of groundwork, we were able to build the new treatment center John Tillman envisioned.”
“Having the residence and the warehouse in one central location allows us the opportunity to greatly increase our service to the community. We can serve more men, and we don’t have to spend time and money transporting beneficiaries from their residence to the warehouse,” Katzman said. “Also, The Salvation Army is now using our old building to feed and shelter homeless people.”
Prior to 2009, the Adult Rehabilitation Center had a 77-bed treatment center on Tenth Street.
The old treatment center is now home to The Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps emergency family shelter, known as Hospitality House.
While the building at 925 W. Tenth St. has belonged to The Salvation Army for about 35 years, its current owners are a separate division of the organization from the Adult Rehabilitation Center.
The Hospitality House is a service of the San Bernardino Corps, which also offers a variety of other programs. These include serving up to 300 meals six days a week to the needy, a weekly church service, and youth programs offering both recreation and spiritual development for boys, girls and teens.
The Adult Rehabilitation Center encourages donations of any size, from clothes and small household items to appliances and cars. Donors can drop off items at the 363 E. Doolittle St. warehouse, any of the Salvation Army Family Stores (except vehicles) or can call 1-800 SATRUCK (1-800-728-7825) to arrange a pick-up.
About the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center
The Adult Rehabilitation Center is a six-month program, combining treatment and work therapy for men who wish to overcome drug or alcohol addiction. These men attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings, receive one-on-one and group counseling, and learn about stress management, anger management, parenting and overcoming addiction. They also participate in recreational activities they can continue after their treatment as part of a sober lifestyle.
Men in San Bernardino County or Pomona Valley who are seeking help to overcome drug or alcohol addiction should call the Adult Rehabilitation Center in San Bernardino at (909) 889-9605. The Salvation Army offers a similar program for men in Riverside County; for more information about that program, call (951) 940-5790.
Women can learn about Adult Rehabilitation Centers for them by calling the center in Anaheim at (714) 758-0414, or the center in San Diego at (619) 239-4037.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. To donate, call 1-800 SATRUCK.

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New Salvation Army Trailer Increases Service To Firefighters

Written by Carl Dameron on March 25, 2011. Posted in The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army Corps of San Bernardino and other corps in the Inland Empire assist during disasters by providing meals to firefighters and other personnel working on the front lines. They will be able to do so more effectively the next time disaster strikes, because of a new trailer donated to the San Bernardino Corps by Salvation Army Team Emergency Services Radio Network member Tony Stephen. Photo by Tony Stephen

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) A new eight-foot trailer will help the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps when it needs to provide one of its least used but most critical community services.
The trailer is specifically for the Salvation Army’s Emergency Services Division, which provides water, snacks and light meals to firefighters and other emergency service workers in the event of a disaster.
“It is a beautiful trailer with its own generator and three Easy-Up canopies,” said Corps Officer Capt. Stephen Ball. “We will be able to take the trailer to disaster areas, and set up a lighted patio area, where we will be able to serve during a disaster.”
The Salvation Army also assists residents in disaster areas to communicate with their families, through its Salvation Army Team Emergency Response Network, also known as SATERN. Tony Stephen, a member of SATERN, donated the trailer to the Salvation Army during SATERN’s annual seminar, held Jan. 29, 2011.
“This will help the Salvation Army in its mission of helping those who are in need,” Tony Stephen said. “As a long-time supporter of the Salvation Army and emergency services volunteer, it is an honor for me to be able to help in this way.”
The Emergency Services Division will use the trailer along with its mobile canteen, a 30-foot RV that is often put into use when firefighters are at a location for more than one day at a time. These are typically during large wildfires in the mountains above San Bernardino and Highland.
For help or more information call (909) 888-1336.
About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.

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Apartment Fire Victims Get Help From Salvation Army

Written by Carl Dameron on March 16, 2011. Posted in The Salvation Army

One way the Salvation Army helps those in need is by helping them to acquire new clothes. It recently did this for victims of an apartment complex fire in San Bernardino. Photo by Chris Sloan

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) As 26 families begin to rebuild their lives after a fire destroyed their homes, the Salvation Army is there to help.
The fire, in the Garden Breeze Apartments near Mill Street and Mt. Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino, broke out in the wee hours of the morning Feb. 20. It caused $1.3 million damage, gutting 26 apartments.
Since then, many of those families have lived in motels, paid for by the American Red Cross and the City of San Bernardino. Other relief organizations such as the Salvation Army are also helping. Many of the displaced tenants lost nearly everything they owned in the fire, and do not have renter’s insurance to replace the items.
“We have given clothing to about 15 families that were displaced by the fire,” said Corps Officer Capt. Stephen Ball. “We are waiting to see if they will need additional help when, over the next few weeks, they transition from local area motels where they were given temporary lodging.”
“We can help them obtain furniture for their new homes,” Capt. Ball continued. “We have also offered to make space available at our Hospitality House Emergency Family Shelter to further assist families who need additional time to secure a new home.”
For help or more information call (909) 888-1336.
About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.

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Car Wash Sends Youth to Salvation Army Retreat

Written by Carl Dameron on March 9, 2011. Posted in The Salvation Army

Pine Summit Retreat in Big Bear Lake is in a beautiful forest location, not far from San Bernardino, but far enough that many of the youth served by the Salvation Army have never been there. They will have an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Pine Summit when they attend the Salvation Army’s division retreat April 8-10, but first will raise money for the retreat by holding a car wash on Saturday, March 26 at the Corps Headquarters.

Like these recent guests to Pine Summit Retreat in Big Bear Lake, youth from the Salvation Army will enjoy a time of fellowship when they attend their division retreat there from April 8-10. The Salvation Army youth will hold a car wash on Saturday, March 26 at the Corps Headquarters, 746 W. Fifth St. ,to raise money for the retreat.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) The Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps youth will hold a car wash Saturday, March 26 at the Corps Headquarters, 746 W. Fifth St., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Money raised from the car wash will help sponsor youth attending a spring retreat at Pine Summit in Big Bear Lake, April 8-10.
“We will send 15 to 20 youth to our division’s retreat,” said Kelly Raabe, the Young People’s Sergeant Major for the San Bernardino Corps.
“The retreat is an opportunity for our young people ages 14 and up, to get out of San Bernardino and to visit the beautiful mountains that they have seen their whole lives from afar but never had the chance to experience first hand,” Raabe said. “We need help to send these kids on an adventure of a lifetime.”
Free time activities at the retreat include a rock wall, ropes course, bungee run, paintball and tubing if there is snow.
The Salvation Army will accept a donation of any amount for the car wash.
Raabe hopes the car wash will raise about $2,000, which will pay for most of the cost of the retreat. Each Corps must pay $125 per young person attending.
“We are asking our youth to pay $20 each,” she said. “Some of them don’t even have that.”
The Salvation Army also will accept mail-in donations from those who can’t take part in the car wash, but still want to help send youth to the retreat. To make a contribution, mail donations to the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps Headquarters, 746. W Fifth St., San Bernardino, CA 92410.
If the car wash fundraiser and other donations specifically for the retreat aren’t enough to pay the expense of each youth who wishes to attend, the Salvation Army will use its general fund to cover the difference. However, with larger fundraisers held in 2010 barely meeting their goals, the Salvation Army’s general fund budget is tight this year.
For more information about how you can help, call (909) 888-1336.
About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.
For local help, call (909) 888-1336.

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Donations Needed For Hospitality House

Written by Carl Dameron on February 28, 2011. Posted in The Salvation Army

Basic hygiene supplies, socks and other items are appreciated as donations to the San Bernardino Corps of the Salvation Army, which gives them to guests of its Hospitality House. Many of these guests lack the resources to provide for their own most basic needs.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) The Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps’ Hospitality House emergency family shelter has an ongoing need for personal items to help its residents.
“Our Hospitality House residents are facing especially hard times, so we give them not just shelter and food, but also other necessities that most people take for granted,” said Corps Officer Nancy Ball. “Since the residents have an ongoing need for these items, it is a great help to us when we receive them as donations instead of having to purchase them.”
The needed personal items are:

Diapers (all sizes)
Baby wipes
Feminine hygiene products
Combs and brushes
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Dental floss
Body/hand soap
Hand lotion
Deodorant (men’s and women’s)
Shampoo
Razors
Blankets
Towels
Wash cloths
Socks (men’s women’s and children’s)

To make a donation, call the San Bernardino Corps Headquarters at (909) 888-1336 or drop off the donations at the Headquarters building, 746 W. Fifth Street, San Bernardino.
About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.

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Salvation Army Fund Raisers Meet Bare Bones Goals

Written by Carl Dameron on January 27, 2011. Posted in The Salvation Army

Highland resident Adrian Ayaly, age 2 in December 2010, helped the Salvation Army provide for others' needs by donating to the Red Kettle campaign, with encouragement from Lynda Graham (holding her 2 month old daughter Zoey), his mother Pam Spaun, and Bell Ringer Joy Tornow.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Two major fund raising efforts at the end of 2010 by the Salvation Army Corps of San Bernardino brought in about $160,000, but that’s only the bare minimum it needs to keep services at their current level.
“We met our goal this year,” said Capt. Stephen Ball. “But the goals are set as low as possible. Just because we achieved them doesn’t mean we won’t have additional expenses that will need to be covered as well!”
“There are also expenses we haven’t put into the budget,” Capt. Ball said. “For instance, the roof of our Corps headquarters building needs about $30,000 to $40,000 in repairs, but we will have to defer those repairs until our donations are substantially more than what we received in 2010.”
The Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps receives most of its annual budget through its Fall Fundraiser and its Red Kettle programs. The donations in 2010 were approximately $50,000 from the Fall Fundraiser, and approximately $110,000 from the Red Kettles.
In October, at the Fall Fundraiser Lunch, the Salvation Army had only raised $40,000. This would have required the Salvation Army to cut its budget by $10,000, but Sempra Energy Foundation supplied a grant to make up the shortfall.
In the Red Kettle campaign, people ring Christmas bells, encouraging donations of any size to plastic red kettles with the Salvation Army logo, placed in front of variety and grocery stores.
This campaign started Nov. 15 in San Bernardino and the other communities served by the San Bernardino Corps (Highland, Rialto, Colton and Bloomington) and continued daily, except on Sundays, until Christmas Eve.
This year, the Red Kettle campaign was hampered by a week of rainy weather from Dec. 17-23, which is typically when it receives the most donations. Although donations had gone well prior to Dec. 17, the total given was below the Corps $75,000 goal until Christmas Eve.
“We started before Thanksgiving,” Capt. Ball said. “Last year with Christmas falling on a Saturday, that also gave us more days in the Thanksgiving to Christmas season, which is when we receive most of our Red Kettle donations.”
“Variations in the length of the Christmas season, or more bad weather just before Christmas could cause us to fall below goal in future years,” Capt. Ball said.
Also affecting the Red Kettle donations is the size of the volunteer force the Salvation Army recruits each year to supervise red kettles in San Bernardino, Highland, Colton, Rialto and Bloomington.
If the Salvation Army can’t find enough volunteers, it hires Bell Ringers. This year, the payroll costs for the non-volunteer Bell Ringer force cost about $35,000, bringing the total profit from that fundraiser to about $75,000.
The rest of the income the San Bernardino Corps receives is from various types of smaller donations made throughout the year. This does not include any proceeds from Salvation Army thrift stores, as they are used entirely to fund a different Salvation Army program, the residential drug treatment centers run by the Adult Rehabilitation Centers.
Through these donations only, the Salvation Army provides a variety of ministries, including its emergency family shelter and two daily meals for up to 80 people at once, a residential and educational program called Path to Prosperity serving 27 men who have successfully completed a drug treatment program and are now reintegrating into society, dinners six days a week for up to 300 people, and several youth programs benefiting more than 100 children and teens.
To make sure the Salvation Army doesn’t fall short throughout the year, it encourages donations through other means. One way is to simply visit the Salvation Army Corps headquarters at 746 W. Fifth St., San Bernardino and make a donation there.
“We can accept cash or checks at our Headquarters building,” Capt. Ball said. “Any size donation is welcomed.”
For more information about how to make a one-time donation to the San Bernardino Corps of the Salvation Army, call (909) 888-1336.
Two other ways to donate to the Salvation Army are 21^st-century innovations, online giving and text-to-give.
Online donation is possible at any time by going to www.salvationarmy.org and clicking on the Red Kettle icon that is always on the left side of the international organization’s home page. This method allows you to specify a certain amount, and specify the Salvation Army location that you would like to give your donation.
Text-to-give, introduced in November of 2010, allows anyone to make a $10 donation via cell phone by texting the word “give” to 85944. These donations appear on the cell phone bill, and are sent to Salvation Army programs in the same area code as the donor’s cell phone.
The Salvation Army also has methods to accept major donations of cash, corporate stock, securities or real estate throughout the year, and to designate the Salvation Army as a beneficiary on a will or in another planned gift. In either case, these can be designated for a specific local branch of the Salvation Army.
For more information about major donations, contact Nancy Tortorelli at (760) 324-4748 or email Nancy.Tortorelli@usw.SalvationArmy.org. For more information about designating the Salvation Army as a beneficiary in a planned gift, call Greg Mattox at (760) 644-0561 or (888) 861-7125, or email Greg.Maddox@usw.SalvationArmy.org.
About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian church and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.
For local help call (909) 888-1336.

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Grant Helps Former Drug Addicts To Get Healthy

Written by Carl Dameron on January 24, 2011. Posted in The Salvation Army

Catholic Healthcare West, owner of St. Bernardine Medical Center and San Bernardino Community Hospital, recently presented the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps a $17,000 grant to help with the health care needs of men enrolled in the Salvation Army’s Path to Prosperity program. Presenting the check on behalf of Catholic Health Care West were Joanne Claytor, center, a licensed clinical social worker at St. Bernardine’s and Linda McDonald, vice president of San Bernardino Medical Center’s Mission Integration program, which serves as a liaison between the hospital and outside community benefit programs such as Path to Prosperity. Accepting the check on behalf of the Salvation Army were Capt. Stephen Ball, corps officer for the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps, John Fletcher, director of Path to Prosperity, and Nancy Tortorelli, major gifts coordinator for the Salvation Army Corps in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) A $17,000 grant awarded recently to the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps will help men who are recovering from alcohol and drug addiction start their new lives in better health.
The Salvation Army’s Path to Prosperity program will use the grant to provide additional health care services to the men in its care, including dental exams and treatment, and physical health screenings. It received the grant from Catholic Healthcare West, the owner of both St. Bernardine Medical Center and Community Hospital of San Bernardino.
Path to Prosperity is a residential and educational program allowing 27 men at a time who have completed a substance abuse recovery program to transition back into society. It has served more than 200 men so far.
“There are many health issues faced by men recovering from drug addiction,” said Capt. Stephen Ball, Corps Officer of the San Bernardino Salvation Army. “Often they have dental problems, because the drugs have damaged their teeth, or they are missing teeth and most of them have not seen a dentist in awhile. Dental problems also lead to many more serious health problems, such as not being able to digest food properly.”
The grant presented to the Salvation Army was one of 14 Inland Empire non-profit organizations to receive a grant from Catholic Healthcare West as part of the two hospitals’ combined Community Grants program.
“Times are tough for everyone, but they may be especially tough for these organizations, who serve people who don’t have many financial resources,” said Steve Barron, president of St. Bernardine Medical Center. “We appreciate the work they do, and are happy to help them.”
Men seeking help to overcome drug or alcohol addiction should call their local Adult Rehabilitation Centers at (909) 889-9605 in San Bernardino County or (951) 940-5790 in Riverside County. Women can learn about Adult Rehabilitation Centers for them by calling the center in Anaheim at (714) 758-0414, or the center in San Diego at (619) 239-4037.
About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.
For local help, call the San Bernardino Corps headquarters at (909) 888-1337.

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Homeless Dog Finds Home at Shelter

Written by Carl Dameron on January 4, 2011. Posted in The Salvation Army

Bear seems happy to be part of a great team of Salvation Army volunteers, along with Kathy Brown, Phillip Nash and Mike Hernandez. Hernandez is the dog’s caretaker, but Bear belongs to everyone at the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps and serves as source of comfort to guests of the Hospitality House emergency family shelter. Photo by Chris Sloan

Volunteers Kathy Brown, Phillip Nash, Mike Hernandez and mascot Bear are the faces guests of the San Bernardino Hospitality House will most likely become familiar with during their stay. The Salvation Army adopted Bear because, not unlike human guests, he decided he liked it at The Salvation Army. He hung out there for six months while shelter workers tried unsuccessfully to find his previous owner. Photo by Chris Sloan

Hospitality House volunteer Kathy Brown pets Bear, who is ready for a walk. Bear lives at, and serves as the official mascot of, the Salvation Army Hospitality House emergency family shelter in San Bernardino. Photo by Chris Sloan.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Like many he meets at the Salvation Army’s Hospitality House emergency family shelter, Bear previously called the streets of San Bernardino “home.”
Now this terrier mix makes the shelter feel more like home. Bear is a stray, taken in by the shelter’s live-in caretaker Mike Hernandez, after being officially adopted by the Salvation Army.
“The kids love him,” Hernandez said. “He is the shelter’s mascot and the perfect pet.”
Although Bear is gentle around the children, Hernandez said, he’s also a good watch dog, letting the shelter’s volunteers and staff know when someone comes to the door.
“Before we adopted him, he had been hanging around the shelter for about six months,” Hernandez said. “We don’t know where he came from.”
“He just wandered into the homeless shelter, not unlike many of the humans who have stayed there,” said Brian Cronin, treasurer of the Salvation Army advisory board and president of Animals R First (ARF), a non-profit organization that helps find homes for abandoned dogs and cats.
For six months before The Salvation Army adopted Bear, the Hospitality House workers asked everyone who lived nearby if they knew to whom the dog belonged. No one knew.
The Hospitality House staff told Cronin about Bear, because as the director of the San Bernardino County Animal Control Department, president of ARF, and genuine animal lover, they knew he could help finalize the adoption.
ARF paid for Bear’s neutering, vaccinations and grooming just before the adoption was made official.
“There are so many homeless animals living in the streets,” Cronin said. “This dog we knew would have a quality home by living at the Hospitality House. Besides, dogs can be a great comfort in times of distress, and guests of the Hospitality House often need that comfort. We felt it was a perfect match”
About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian church and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY
For local help call (909) 888-1336.

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