Syracuse Area Services Salvation Army Summer Newsletter

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Inside This Issue • Participate in our Weekly Giveaway!

• A note from our Early Childhood Education director • Save The Date: Our 50th Civic Celebration!

a note from early childhood education director, Chandra Smith WOW! What a year it has been.

Our Early Childhood Education Program is truly grateful for all the support received from generous donors such as yourselves. It seemed like every week, another treat or donation was popping up. Your support has assisted our teachers in being able to have necessary classroom supplies, PPE, surprise lunches, special Friday treats, and so much more that brought smiles to their faces and warmed their hearts every time.

This type of recognition does not go unnoticed, and quite frankly, it helps us to be confident in our daily services to children and families. It has kept us going and lifted us up as obstacles continued to appear. This past spring and summer, our program children received hundreds of toys, diapers, wipes, face masks, much needed spring clothing, sneakers, and new books for summer. The staff and parents cannot say thank you enough for thinking of us.

We have been truly blessed to remain open throughout the entire pandemic. We were eager to support essential workers as they needed a safe place for their children to go while they went to work. Most in-person services were suspended, but we were open and provided opportunities for parents to have flexible childcare. We wanted to support parents with whatever their childcare need was, whether it was in-person, virtual or hybrid learning. We never closed.

When morale started to dip low, a donation would appear to lift spirits back up.

We took all of Onondaga County’s directives, as well as guidance from the CDC, Health Department, Office of Children and Family Services, partnering agencies, and all of you to ensure all staff and children remained safe and healthy. We are proud of the scope of services and work that has been accomplished and will continue many of the practices moving forward.

We could not have kept going without all of you thinking of us, and for that we want to say thank you, oh so much. :)

*Photos from The United Difference: A Photo Series by Mike Greenlar for United Way of Central New York

What's

nethw is Summer?

Back in March, we opened the doors to our new ‘Skill building’ room thanks to a $1,600 donation from The Hayner Hoyt Corporation. Skill building is one of our newest programs that helps kids learn the skills necessary to work through challenges they are being faced with at home, at school, or in the community that have become typical for so many adolescence and teens today. Our 6 ‘skill builders’ are currently helping 40 at-risk youth with building personal competence and independent living skills. The youth receive one-on-one support from their skill builder weekly until their goals are achieved. The program has been a huge success so far! We still have two more ‘skill builder’ openings, so if you know anyone interested in working with children and families, have them call 315-479-3651.

On Wednesday, July 14, one of our resilient skill building clients, 15-year-old Gage Galvan was surprised with a brandnew mountain bike, helmet, and bike lock. This beautiful gift was made possible thanks to Board Member Alicia Carrier, pictured with her daughter in the group photo above. Gage’s skill builder, Wilnisha Sholtz, thought the bike would be a great way to help him gain independence. Wilnisha is also going to teach Gage how to ride it! Thank you to everyone who made the surprise possible, including our amazing facilities team who put the bike together in record time!

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Syracuse Division 677 South Salina Street Syracuse, New York 13202

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The Salvation Army of Syracuse, NY