Salvation Army provides many services to the area

By LISA M. REED, Staff Writer
IRON MOUNTAIN — Doing more good than anyone knows, the Salvation Army is best known for its Red Kettle Campaign, but its mission is much more than that.

“That’s our primary fund-raiser,” said Linda Bigelow, director of Dickinson County Service Extension Unit of the Salvation ArmyStaff Writer.

The fund-raiser usually runs for less than two months. It begins around deer hunting season and ends around Christmas. Last year, the campaign raised $76,000.

“The money that comes into the Red Kettle is totally what we have for rental assistance, prescriptions and those new work boots someone needs to start a new job,” Bigelow said. “For years we have been known as one of the top philanthropic organizations.”

The non-profit organization also receives funds from grants.

Bigelow said the Salvation Army is in a position where they really try to look at the needs of the whole person — body, mind and spirit.

“That makes us unique in helping agencies,” she said.

The Bread of Life Center, located at 221 East A St., meets the physical needs of a person, whether that be assistance with paying utilities, prescriptions, rent or food.

Bigelow said there is also a prayer request where visitors can write in their prayer needs and volunteers may pray with them.

The Bread of Life Center is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The center also works with churches for spiritual growth, offers financial advice and financial management courses, how to be good stewards and employability skills.

Bigelow said the Salvation Army Food Pantry has been running 2,000 to 3,000 meals a month in the Dickinson County area. No one is denied service even if they do not live in the area.

“If we error on side of being generous, we are showing Christ’s love,” she said.

In addition to the Bread of Life, the Salvation Army has 12 beds at the Genesis House in Iron Mountain. The house is a homeless shelter, and currently there are three women, two men and a married couple living at the shelter.

Another shelter, Trinity House, houses families with children. Currently there is a single mother with two children and mother with five children living in the home.

“These are homeless people we accommodate while they are with us,” Bigelow said. “They learn social skills, how to get along with others and how to follow rules.”

Bigelow said one of those rules is the resident must save 60 percent of their income.

“That is what allows them to get into their own place. We have some people who have saved enough to get into their own apartment or enough for a down payment on a house,” Bigelow said.

Although residents can stay in the shelter 90 days, they have to work toward independent living. They have responsibilities, must apply at a certain number of jobs daily and weekly and attend workshops, to name a few of the house rules.

“They can’t just sit back and coffee clutch and watch TV,” Bigelow said. “We offer financial management workshops from a Christian aspect with the focus being on honest, good stewards so it does not become a crisis. We want to make sure we are doing everything we can.”

The Salvation Army came to the U.S. in the 1890s. It was started in England in 1865. It helps with mass feedings at disaster relief sites and the local organization assisted at Ground Zero and Hurricane Katrina.

The center also works with the American Red Cross on disaster relief. The Red Cross will provide shelter and the Salvation Army may provide mass feedings.

Cinde Caruso, D.A.T. (Disaster Action Team) chairperson for the Red Cross, said the Salvation Army is called in to assist with a large disaster because they have more equipment and volunteers to serve an extended length of time at a disaster.

“If we are called out on a disaster and we need more help than we can supply, we call on (other Salvation Army volunteers),” Caruso said.

UPCOMING



Starting in May, the Salvation Army will offer a mom’s club. The club will be for mothers that need a little time out to take care of themselves. They will have lunch, make crafts and do a bible study.

Sometimes mothers are so busy and often find being a mother a chore.

“We hope that this activity will help them find that joy of being a mom,” said Linda Bigelow, director of Dickinson County Service Extension Unit of the Salvation Army.

Mothers interested in joining can call 779-5717 and ask for Linda.

Lisa M. Reed can be reached at lreed@ironmountaindailynews.com.