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Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

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We fight poverty with love.

Doing The Most to Fight Poverty

Through programs that serve the body, mind and soul, The Salvation Army alleviates the symptoms of poverty, then works to address the root issues that cause it.

46.7 million Americans live below the poverty line. 60 million more live one crisis away.

Sadly, children raised in poverty are 32% more likely to remain there than their more fortunate peers.

The Salvation Army is active in every zip code in America to feed, shelter, assist and lift up the poor.

Poverty is so often the result of - and the catalyst for - chronic struggles with hunger, addiction, housing insecurity, mental illness, educational voids and various forms of abuse. These interconnected struggles continue year after year, and often span generations. That's why The Salvation Army works to meet the needs of the whole person through short and long-term assistance - first alleviating the symptoms of poverty and then addressing the root issues that cause it.

Poverty doesn't have to be permanent. You can help.

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The Salvation Army helps overcome poverty through:

Food Pantries

The Salvation Army has food pantries in more than 25 locations throughout the Chicagoland area. Food boxes may include shelf-stable pantry items, breads, cereals, meat and other household necessities. For more information, contact a community and worship center near you.

Homelessness Prevention & Emergency Assistance Programs

The Salvation Army provides emergency assistance to help with mortgage/rent, utility bills, clothing, medication bills, and other needs in order to keep families in their homes. For more information or support, find a location near you, or learn more online.

Pathway of Hope

A comprehensive case management system to help families identify barriers to self-sufficiency (unemployment, insecure housing, lack of job skills, lack of childcare, etc), Pathway of Hope also provides guidance on how to address these barriers, and connects families with community support organizations, and more.

Job Training

The Salvation Army offers job skills training and employment referrals for adults. This program is included in the substance rehabilitation program, and through some Salvation Army community centers.

Shield of Hope

The nation's first Emergency Homeless Assessment and Response Center to address the needs of families in crisis, the Shield of Hope can provide shelter for up to 75 people. The Salvation Army staff help families identify more stable living situations within 14 days. Upon their move, families are connected with community support services to better navigate their futures.

Evangeline Booth Lodge

The Evangeline Booth Lodge is an emergency shelter for families with children who suddenly become homeless due to eviction, disasters, domestic violence, stranded while traveling, or other crises. Booth Lodge can accommodate as many as 60 families each night. In just one year, Booth Lodge provided shelter for 1,085 men, women and children.

Senior Apartments

Booth Manor Senior Residences, in Chicago's West Loop, provides attractive, low-income apartments and supportive services for seniors on fixed incomes.

Mobile Feeding & Homeless Outreach

The Salvation Army makes more than 25 stops every day to provide hot meals, case management, and mental health and substance abuse services to the homeless with our Mobile Outreach program. We are ready to assist those interested in leaving the streets. Download the Mobile Outreach schedule.

How You and Your Family Can Help the Homeless

Homelessness is an issue plaguing cities and neighborhoods across the country. Here are some ideas for how to talk with your children about homelessness, how you can help fight poverty, and what you can do to make an impact in your community.

Spread the Word

Turn your passion into action. Share these facts with your friends and
followers to educate and inspire change.

Poverty impacts
the most vulnerable.

21% (15.5 million) of children under age 18 live in poverty.

10% (4.6 million) of seniors over age 65 live in poverty.

29% (4 million) of people with a disability live in poverty.

A donation to The Salvation Army provides safe, free shelter to someone living on the streets. Help those most in need.

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Childhood poverty is an epidemic.

Among the 35 wealthiest countries in the world, the United States has the 2nd-highest child poverty rate. 1 out of every 5 children lives below the poverty line.

A donation to The Salvation Army feeds children in your community. Feed a child today.

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Poverty is costly to society.

14.8% of Americans - and 21% of the nation's children - currently live in poverty.

Childhood poverty, alone, costs the United States $500 billion a year. (That's 4% of our nation's GDP.)

A donation to The Salvation Army helps keep families together and off the street. Break the cycle of poverty.

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Give now. Change lives forever.

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For tax purposes: The Salvation Army North and Central Illinois Division EIN is 36-2167910.

The Salvation Army is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.

The Salvation Army exists
to pave a way out of poverty.

Watch how we work to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.


Other Ways We Meet Needs