The Salvation Army serves your community 365 days a year.
What charity's logo is one of the best known and most trusted branding symbols in the world even though this $2.1 billion enterprise spends next to nothing on advertising? The answer is The Salvation Army. Embracing a philosophy that doing God's work will bring needed support, The Army has been blessed to learn that its good work speaks volumes in the public eye.
Named "most effective organization in the United States" by Peter Drucker (professor at the Drucker School of Management, Claremont Graduate University), The Salvation Army operates 9,222 community centers nationally, employs 45,000 employees coast to coast and served 38 million people last year. According to Drucker, "no one else comes close to it with respect to clarity of mission, ability to innovate, measurable results, dedication and putting money to maximum use."
Part of this efficiency is due to The Army's cadre of dedicated officers who operate within a military structure earning very low pay (the highest officer in the U.S. makes $13,000 a year) and who gladly work on Thanksgiving and Christmas while inspiring thousands of volunteers to do the same.
Known for its work with the poor, drug/alcohol addicted and the homeless, the organization came into being in 1865 in the slums of London through the work of an activist preacher named William Booth. By 1880, the movement had spread to the United States and now maintains operations in 108 countries worldwide.
Locally, The Salvation Army of Metropolitan Kansas City, with headquarters at 3637 Broadway in Kansas City, Missouri, operates on a $19 million budget with an extraordinary 86 percent of contributions spent on direct services (the acceptable minimum is around 60 percent). Services are provided through 13 area "Corps" community centers and Red Shield service centers located throughout the metro area.
In 2002, The Salvation Army provided these and other services within the metropolitan area:
- 537,755 meals served in local feeding programs;
- 136,857 nights of shelter lodging and programs for alcohol and drug users;
- 239 abused and neglected children were cared for in the children's shelter;
- 8,174 citizens attended a low-fee summer camp in Independence, Mo.;
- 94,159 gifts distributed to homebound disabled or lonely older adults;
- 36,644 units of service through its Emergency Disaster services;
- 21,500 local citizens received emergency rent, utilities and food assistance.
Within the metropolitan Kansas City area, The Salvation Army operates shelters, supportive housing, feeding programs, foster care, a children's shelter, day care programs, thrift stores, substance abuse and detox services, Hispanic ministries, disasters services 24-hours a day, prison ministries, subsidized apartments for the elderly, literacy and tutoring programs, nursing home visits and food, utility, clothing and rent assistance.
"I think that most people see our kettles at Christmas and know we do good things, but most don't realize we provide such a variety of services," says Lt. Colonel Theodore Dalberg, Divisional Commander. "Still, the people we serve know that they can call us and we will be there for them—and you never know who will need our help next. I've had civic leaders tell me that The Salvation Army helped their family through tough times," he says. "We're helping in your local community 365 days a year."
These efforts are provided by Salvation Army officers, staff and by a very large pool of volunteers. "We could not provide these services without our amazing volunteers," says Dalberg. "We owe a huge debt of gratitude to these selfless and hardworking individuals."
With a 118-year history in Kansas City, The Salvation Army soldiers on quietly and effectively to serve your community. Want to help? Volunteer by calling The Salvation Army at 816.968.0374, or mail donations to 3637 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111 or online at www.salarmy-mokan.org.