Events
National Salvation Army Week
The Salvation Army in Kent County is celebrating National Salvation Army Week (May 12-18) to recognize and bring awareness to the essential programs and services available for those in need.
Most people think The Salvation Army in Kent County only helps those in need during the holiday season” said Grand Valley Area Commander Major Tim Myer. “For us, the goal this week, is to let the media, and Kent County residents know about our programs that can help them year-round.”
Programs that include:
- An emergency food pantry which continues to see an increase in households seeking assistance during the past year. It is the only pantry in Kent County that is open five days a week.
- One of the county’s largest seniors’ programs at our Fulton Heights Citadel/Community Center, which has been assessed and approved by the Area Agency on Aging of West Michigan.
- Housing and Utilities assistance.
- Pathway of Hope which helps families break the cycle of generational poverty.
- As well as programs to help individuals with substance abuse.
As part of National Salvation Army Week, Echelon of Grand Rapids is hosting a Personal Care drive, to collect items needed to help those that come for assistance as well as those experiencing homelessness.
Items can be dropped off at Salvation Army Community Services located at 1215 Fulton Street E. in Grand Rapids. For more information, please contact GREchelon@usc.salvationarmy.org.
Each year, National Salvation Army Week serves as an opportunity to celebrate our volunteers, donors and program beneficiaries who have enabled us to serve those in need around the world for 154 years. This week is observed immediately following Mother's Day in May and was first declared by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954 – 75 years after The Salvation Army arrived in the U.S.