Community Corner

Nonprofit Spotlight: The Salvation Army

Each week, we feature a different nonprofit

Each week on Carrollwood Patch, we feature a nonprofit organization with local ties to Tampa Bay.

This week, we're focusing on The Salvation Army, a well-known organization that aims to help people find food, shelter and aid them in emergency situations. This time of year, the organization also uses volunteers and staffers to collect funds outside of Publix, Walmart and Sam's Club locations for its Red Kettle Campaign.

Patch talked to Moira Hinson, director of development and community relations for The Salvation Amry, 1603 N. Florida Avenue in Tampa, about how Tampa Bay residents can volunteer and why the organization is important.

Find out what's happening in Carrollwood-Northdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Patch: What is the purpose or mission of the organization?

Hinson: The mission of the The Salvation Army is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. The purpose of The Salvation Army is to meet human needs wherever they may exists. Currently, The Salvation Army is active in 124 countries, providing food, shelter, emergency assistance, and spiritual care to men, women and children in need.

Find out what's happening in Carrollwood-Northdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Patch: Who founded it, and what year?

Hinson: The Salvation Army was founded by William Booth, and his wife Catherine, in 1865. It was initially known as the East London Christian Mission.

Patch: What are some activities that the organization has been involved in Tampa Bay? Are those primary fund-raisers for the nonprofit?

Hinson: The Salvation Army has been serving the people of Tampa Bay since 1893. We have local operations in each county designed to meet local needs. Each Salvation Army Command or Corps operates a Family Services Program that provides rent/mortgage, utility, grocery and other types of assistance to families experiencing some sort of emergency (i.e., job loss, the loss of a spouse, a house fire, etc.)

The Salvation Army also operates emergency shelters called Red Shield Lodges, where homeless men and women can get a hot meal, a warm shower and a safe place to sleep at night. Transitional housing programs also are available in each community to provide these homeless men, women and their children with the training, skills and support they need to regain and retain their independence. The Salvation Army also operates Adult Rehabilitation Centers (ARC) in all Tampa Bay area communities where men who have struggled from addictions to drugs and alcohol are rehabilitated.

Each year, your local Salvation Army: distributes school supplies and backpacks to underprivileged children in the area;  sends hundreds of at-risk and low-income children for a week of summer camp; offers free and low-cost character-building programs for children; provides Christmas gifts for children living in households of poverty through The Salvation Army's Angel Tree program, and; provides supplemental support for families struggling to make ends meet.

Patch: Why is the organization important for communities such as Carrollwood and Northdale?

Hinson: The latest U.S. Census data tells us that there are more than 17,000 homeless men, women and children living in Hillsborough County alone. Sadly, the fastest growing segment of the homeless population is children. It is important for all citizens of Hillsborough County - and really Tampa Bay - to be aware of these statistics and to be a part of the solution.

Patch: How can the community get involved if they want to donate or volunteer?

Hinson: There are a variety of ways that the community can get involved with The Salvation Army. We could not do the work we do without the support of the community. In Hillsborough County, we encourage people to visit our website at www.salvationarmytampa.org.

We also encourage people to visit The Salvation Army's Tampa Bay Area Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyTampaBay, where they can find volunteer opportunities and links to their local Tampa Bay Area Salvation Army.


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