History of the Salvation Army
In 1852, William Booth abandoned the concept of the traditional church pulpit in favor of taking the gospel of Jesus Christ directly to the people. Walking the streets of London, he preached to the poor, the homeless, the hungry, and the destitute. He penned the name “Salvation Army” in 1878, growing his mission.
“From that point onward, converts became soldiers of Christ and were known then, as now, as Salvationists. They launched an offensive throughout the British Isles that, in spite of violence and persecution, converted 250,000 Christians between 1881 and 1885. Their message spread rapidly, gaining a foothold in America and soon after Canada, Australia, France, Switzerland, India, South Africa, Iceland, and Germany.”
Today, the Salvation Army is active in 134 countries, offering the message of God’s hope and healing to those in need while making a difference with their various services.
What Does the Salvation Army Do Today?
Every community is diverse in their needs. The Salvation Army does their best to assess exactly what is needed doing their best to understand the obstacles, hardships, and challenges native to the area’s particular population. They then build local programs that are uniquely designed to offer immediate relief, short-term care, and long-term growth in the areas that will best benefit the community. The next step is implementing these programs and continuing to optimize their efficacy.
Some of the services that the Salvation Army Provides are: Food pantries, disaster relief, spiritual healing, LGBTQ support groups, homeless shelters, veterans services, rehabilitation, rent and mortgage assistance, after school programs, solutions to human trafficking, job trainings, etc.
How can YOU make a difference?
There are several ways in which you can make a difference with the Salvation Army. Here’s just a few ways:
- Donation Drop Off: You can bring in gently used items like clothing, books, furniture or household items. Can’t leave the house? You can schedule a pick-up option too! Visit the link to learn more: https://satruck.org/Donate/Choose?zip=52807
- Donate Money by clicking the link: https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/give/164006/#!/donation/checkout?amount=25&recurring=1&c_src=USN_WaysToGive&c_src2=Monthly
- Hold a fundraiser
- Volunteer by assisting at a shelter, organizing food drives, or ringing bells at a Red Kettle, every act of volunteerism contributes to creating positive change. Learn more about volunteering in the Quad Cities by visiting the link: https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/location-search?location=52807
- Shop at Necker’s Jewelers in store or online during the month of July- a portion of all sales will benefit our local Salvation Army
To learn more about The Salvation Army, visit: https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/home/#whatwedo
