Salvation Army Prepares for Winter Storm

Photo courtesy of www.thesouthernfamily.net
Aubree Southern

Salvation Army facilities in metro Tulsa and Sand Springs are preparing for the winter storm that is expected to bring record-cold temperatures and precipitation to the area tomorrow. 
The Center of Hope, the largest homeless shelter in northeast Oklahoma, is prepared for record numbers of overnight guests. An average of approximately 300 people stay at the shelter every night. Almost 1,000 hot meals are served every day at the shelter on average. Cold weather and precipitation are expected to greatly increase these numbers over the next few days.
The Salvation Army mobile feeding unit based in Tulsa is prepared to serve 5,000 hot meals a day. The Salvation Army Sand Springs Corps and Boys & Girls Club is on standby to open as a warming station and can accommodate up to 100 overnight guests if needed.  Supplies are ready to be picked up at the Emergency Operations Command at 924 S. Hudson by Salvation Army units as far as Muskogee. Warming stations will be open at Salvation Army facilities across the state, including in Stillwater, Bartlesville and Lawton.  Stay warm!!
-Sallie 

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Warming and shelter available at 102 N. Denver
Tulsa, OK (918) 582-7201

and

Warming and shelter at 4403 S. 129th W. Ave

Sand Springs, OK (918) 245-2237 (Call first)

Salvation Army & Cox, a Great Team

If you watch cable TV you have likely seen this commercial already. Captain Patrick Gesner appears in a 30 second public service announcement (PSA) thanking Cox Communications for helping the Tulsa community through The Salvation Army. Cox employees rang bells during the holidays for a week last year, and they help The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club year round. 

-Sallie

Bell Ringers Accept Trophies

A family eating dinner at the Center of Hope. A little girl getting her first ballet lesson. A homeless person sleeping in a warm bed instead of under a bridge. What do all of these people have in common? They are being helped because someone rang a bell for the Tulsa Area Command of The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army Kettle Campaign not only helps fund Christmas gifts and food for 3,000 needy families, it helps funds programs throughout the winter. The Kettle Campaign raised $608,000 in 2010, more than seven percent higher than the $565,000 goal. The city’s top bell ringers recently gathered at the Tulsa Area Command to receive recognition for their exceptional efforts. They were congratulated by Captain John Robbins of the Citadel Corps and by Rhonda McDaniel, volunteer coordinator. The first place winner for the One-Day-One-Door competition, Johnny Wasovich, was out of town for the ceremony but it was announced that he raised $934. A high point in the ceremony was when Jimmy Ober, a Tulsa firefighter, co-presented the traveling trophy for bell ringing to Cpl. Scott Anderson of the Tulsa Police Department. The two organizations have developed a pattern of exchanging the trophy every year. Click "Read More" to see photos of all our winners!

Feeding the Need

Last week the national office of The Salvation Army released a survey of our food programs across the United States.  The 2011 Feeding the Need report contains info from more than 30 of our feeding programs, large and small, across the country.  I read the report and instantly emailed the Center of Hope Director to find out how our needs in Tulsa compared to the national report.  The answer? We are doing better, but not that much better.

If you want to read the full report you can do that here.

First, the recession officially ended in June 2009.  If you feel like that was the month that things got better for you and your family, please comment below and count your blessings.  To the rest of us, that date probably doesn’t mean much.  I was laid off in July 2009 from a previously thriving non-profit, so the June date holds irony for me. The impact of this recession is still being felt by many in our country.  Salvation Army food programs nationwide have seen an increase in new clients, ranging from middle-class families to the working poor, in addition to younger generations looking for work.

Life after Christmas...

First of all, for all of you who check out our blog frequently and have noticed the shortage of posts recently, sorry.  Life after Christmas around here is a time for catching up and resting (a little).  That does not mean we haven't been busy though! Below is a recap of some recent news:

The Tulsa Women's Auxiliary raised more than $90,000 at their "Fantasy Christmas" luncheon. Well done ladies!

We lost a longtime employee. Wes is greatly missed.

The Neediest Families Fund had the most successful year ever. Thanks to the Tulsa World for featuring so many families in need.

The police and fire departments volunteered for a bellringing throwdown. Congrats to the Tulsa Police for their 2010 victory.  Volunteers gave us 5,512 hours of their time this holiday season.

Brad Johnson from LawnAmerica spent 138 days walking the Appalachian Trail and raised $105,000 for Tulsa charities including us. Thanks Brad! 

Major Roy Williams thanked Tulsa for their generosity on Christmas day. 

Nearly 100 volunteers served hundreds of Christmas Eve meals. 

Our #Tweet4Toys Twitter campaign got national recognition for using social media for social good.

Thousands of children are had a merry Christmas this year thanks to the Salvation Army's Angel Tree.

The Salvation Army mourns the loss of the 2009 Arkansas Oklahoma Division Man of the Year, Eddie Story.

From myself and the entire staff here at the Tulsa Area Salvation Army we hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We are grateful for you.

~Lindsay