Salvation Army Week May 10-15

Note: This story is from our April e-newsletter.  Click here to sign up to get each issue in your email every month!

Between May 10 and 15, Salvation Army Corps, community centers, and other social service centers are celebrating National Salvation Army Week, an annual event across the United States.

Each community celebrates the week in different ways, but the mission remains the same: to share the story of The Salvation Army with our friends, family, and community members who know nothing, very little, or a lot about our history and services.

Below is some great information about our programs and services in Tulsa that we would love for you to know and share.

Tulsa Area Command operates six local Boys & Girls Clubs in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Sand Springs and Sapulpa. Boys & Girls Clubs have a lineup of tested and proven nationally recognized programs that address today's most pressing youth issues, teaching young people the skills they need to succeed in life.  In 2009 we had nearly 268,000 visits to these clubs for after school care, aquatics lessons, basketball, football, baseball, tutoring and so much more. Also, Summer Day Camp attendance nearly doubled in 2009, with 1,600 youth attending summer camp. Click HERE for locations.



In 2009, the Angel Tree program assisted nearly 5,200 families, representing over 14,000 children and senior adults, with their Christmas wishes and needs.  Through area toy drives and the Angel Trees, close to 33,000 toys were collected.  Local food drives amassed enough food to feed over 20,000 people for a week.  This entire effort was supported by over 3,000 volunteers who gave close to 15,000 hours of their time.

There are Salvation Army Corps (churches) in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Sapulpa and Sand Springs.  Local residents can attend Sunday worship services or various other faith-based events throughout the week.  Programs are available for children, youth, adults, senior adults and families. No matter your age or stage of life, there is a place for you at one of our Corps.  Click HERE for local service times.

The Center of Hope is our social service headquarters in Tulsa.  From the Center, we serve three hot meals a day and provide shelter for hundreds of people each night.  The Center has been very busy recently, as layoffs and foreclosures have left many Tulsans without a roof over their heads.  Last year we experienced a 20 percent increase in services, and have seen an overall 53 percent increase since 2006.  The staff at the Center of Hope served an average of 25,000 meals a month in 2009.  The Center also offers an Emergency Financial Assistance program for those struggling to make ends meet.  This helps pay gas/water/electric bills for individuals and families, helping thousands keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

The Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Tulsa is funded by the three Tulsa Salvation Army Family Stores and helps those suffering from addictions to become sober.  People who have sought our ministry, nurturing and healing have come with issues of substance abuse, legal problems, relational conflicts, homelessness, unemployment and most importantly, a need for spiritual awakening and restoration.  Programs at the ARC encourage living a healthy life with healthy relationships and activities.  The rehabilitation program is offered at no cost to those in the community who need help overcoming their addictions.  LEARN MORE

Photo from: http://www.dunedindailyphoto.com

The Salvation Army Family Stores are at the heart of the Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) philosophy. These simple community stores serve several distinct purposes: provide quality clothing, furniture and other goods to the community at bargain prices; fund 100 percent of the ARC’s expenses, allowing them to be self-sustaining; serve as a site for Work Therapy allowing those in recovery to regain self-esteem and learn valuable vocational skills.  If you have items in your home that you would like to donate to help support the Salvation Army, call 918-583-ARMY to schedule a pickup.