2023 Annual Impact Report

Mission Statement

The Salvation Army, an international Movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name, without discrimination.

Letter From Divisional Commanders

This past Christmas, my daughter gave me a jigsaw puzzle. This time she gave me one that has 3000 pieces, a number that I have never done before. At first, I just let it sit on the shelf because I did not have the space or the time to be working on such a daunting project. Finally, during a staycation, I decided that I would at least start it. So, here is the question; How do you put together a 3,000-piece puzzle? The answer: One piece at a time! There is no other solution.

The mission of The Salvation Army is a daunting one. ‘Preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in His Name, without discrimination.’ At the present time, all of us are painfully aware that there is great need in our society. From the small towns to the big cities, from the fields to the factory, people are in need. There is the need for recovery because of addiction to drugs and alcohol. There is the need for food because of the effects of poverty and inflation. There is the need for life skill acquisition because of the impact of the pandemic on our children’s education. There is the need for spiritual clarity as people search for answers to the confusion. All of this is part of the mission of The Salvation Army. So how are we going to do it?

We will accomplish this task one life at a time. We feed one person at a time. We will send one child to camp. We teach one person at a time how to manage their finances. We assist a family with their rent payment. We teach a family how to pray to the One who loves them and has a great plan for their lives. Your contributions help the Salvation Army meet the puzzle that is in front of us – one life at a time.

Thank you!

MAJORS

KEVIN & CHERIANN STOOPS

Program Listing

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- Anti Human Trafficking

- Christmas Assistance

- Emergency Disaster Services

- Food Security

- Job Training

- Long Point Camp

- Pathway of Hope

- Pathway to Recovery

- Rehabilitation

- Shelters - Youth Programming

- Veteran Services

Hope on Main

Hope on Main is The Salvation Army’s vision for transforming its Buffalo Main Street Complex into a vibrant center for living; offering emergency shelter, transitional and supportive housing, and affordable living for families and individuals in a safe, dignified setting while providing spiritual, social, and material care to those that call it “home.”

The project is part of The Salvation Army of Buffalo’s long-term goal of addressing emerging needs, responding to changing environments, creating a plan for aging infrastructure, and ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of the community.

“Hope on Main will allow us greater flexibility to meet growing needs, expand assistance to a larger population, and provide new and enhanced ministries to support under-resourced households in our community,” says Major Annette Lock, Director of Operations, Erie County. “Expansion will increase our impact by meeting both urgent and long-term needs for housing, education, and employment, ensuring individuals can not only imagine a better future but find the tools and supports to help them achieve one.”

Phase one will begin in 2023 with the construction of a new 80-bed shelter and renovation of the existing Salvation Army facilities addressing the need for emergency services and housing. Phase two will run between 2024 and 2026 with the creation of 160 affordable housing units and Phase three will begin in 2025 with the acquisition and construction of the East Buffalo Church and Community Center –transforming it into a Salvation Army community center with enhanced family support services.

The project is expected to be completed in 2026.

across the Empire Division Domestic Violence Services

The Salvation Army’s Safe House is a 15-bed emergency shelter in Elmira that provides residential and non-residential services to survivors of domestic violence. Safe House operates 24 hours a day, seven-days a week and is the contracted agency within Chemung County to provide services to survivors of domestic violence and their children.

The Salvation Army of Jamestown’s Anew Center is certified as a provider of both domestic violence residential and non-residential services for Chautauqua County. Anew Center is a 13-bed shelter that provides a 24-hour hotline, case management, group counseling, family crisis intervention, and is designated by the Department of Health for rape crisis response.

A Survivor’s Story

Mary had been married for 12 years – and a survivor of domestic violence for the very same 12 years. She and her husband were both active members of their community and, as Mary kept the abuse well hidden, no one ever suspected that anything was, or could be, wrong.

Mary tried to flee multiple times, but he found her each time – and punished her. Scared and knowing that she may not be able to stay alive much longer, Mary decided to try one more time to leave and knew that she had to get as far away as possible.

Through a National Domestic Violence hotline, Mary was able to find her way to a Salvation Army shelter in southern New York State – several states away from where she had made her call for help. While there, Mary was able to receive the assistance she was so desperately in need of but had been scared of asking for.

It wasn’t an easy road, and Mary wondered several times if she had made the right decision or not. But when Mary was at her lowest, a Salvation Army Officer took her under his wing and made sure that she saw the good ahead of her.

This is just the beginning of Mary’s story and after leaving The Salvation Army shelter, she has been able to build a new life for herself and continues to thrive in her new community she now calls home. The Salvation Army Empire Division will continue to be there for Mary and the survivors of domestic abuse and violence.

PATHWAY HOPE OF

The Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope program is a relationship and action-based program that engages parents who can, with effective case management, interventions, and support, meet both urgent and longer-term housing, education, and employment goals.

The program is an initiative that shifts traditional social service activities from treating the symptoms of poverty, to preventing the epidemic at its root breaking the cycle of generational poverty.

Throughout the Empire Division, The Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope program has made a measurable positive impact on the lives of hundreds of families and more than 770 children over the past six years including Wilma and her 10-year-old son.

Wilma came to The Salvation Army for help after the tragic loss of her two sisters just six months apart. For Wilma, this was especially devastating as her oldest sister had raised her from an early age.

While suffering from long-term depression fueled by grief and alcohol, Wilma lost her job of 14 years and became homeless. Determined to provide a better life for her son, Wilma reached out to The Salvation Army and was referred to our Pathway of Hope program.

While in the program, Wilma began making lifestyle changes essential for her and her son’s future well-being. Social Workers at The Salvation Army helped Wilma work on her resume and assisted in her job search. With the continued support of The Salvation Army, Wilma and her son were able to move into a safe and affordable apartment.

Throughout this process, The Salvation Army provided Wilma with clothing, school supplies, and various recreational items for her son – as well as furniture, dishes, and cookware.

Music & Arts

The past year was an inspiring and eventful one for The Salvation Army’s Music and Arts Departments in the Empire State Division – following a fresh start after the Pandemic put a hold on many activities.

“Music is a powerful tool,” says Erik Jones Divisional Music Director. “It touches the heart and breaks through barriers and situations of life and circumstance. It has the power to change broken lives, bring isolated children together, and help people find their purpose through relationship building at our programs.”

Highlights from this year include a renewed Music, Arts and Jr. Soldier Camp and Music and Dance Conservatory at Long Point Camp, our Empire Brass, Chorus and Timbrels monthly rehearsals, Star Search program, and a return to a weekly in-person music and arts programs.

The ministry of the Music and Arts Department continues its mission of reaching boys and girls through music and the live changing message of Jesus Christ. Often, these young people go on to become members of The Salvation Army's music groups, and many have gone to college for Music Education or Composing.

Ways to give

DONATE VOLUNTEER

Your donations stay in the community in which they are received to help us serve those most in need.

Volunteer your time at Christmas or throughout the year to help those most in need.

We pour ourselves into the work we do, but we cannot do it alone. We need friends like you to join us in the fight for good by giving your time, talent and resources so we can continue serving others. Every gift is precious – big or small. Thank you for your faithful support.

Create A FreeWill Gift Planning & Life Income Plans Stocks, Bonds, Funds & IRA Rollover

Write your will and create your legacy at no cost today.

Provide hope for the future with the gift of a planned donation.

Donor-Advised Fund

Immediate tax deduction while also deciding when to provide a grant from the fund.

Make a gift of your securities to help those who need it most.

Donate a Vehicle Sponsor a Child Overseas Airline Miles Donate Goods / Shop Our Stores

The goods you donate and the money you spend in Salvation Army Stores fund programs that heal broken lives.

Extend love and hope to a child in need in another part of the world.

Help put someone on the road to recovery with a vehicle donation.

Donate airline miles to help The Salvation Army meet need all over the U.S.