How Salvation Army helps in DuPage County
When most of us hear a mention of the Salvation Army, we make a quick mental leap to those volunteers who brave the winter cold and holiday crowds to ring a bell and try to fill the familiar red kettles with donations.
The Red Kettle Campaign in December is the largest fundraiser for the Christian organization that spends the entire year tending to the immediate needs of those struggling to get by - a provider faced with an unexpected expense, a senior given an unexpected diagnosis, a family hit by an unexpected loss.
With its Oakbrook Terrace Corps Community Center, the Salvation Army strives to take care of such needs locally. The center houses a food pantry and offers emergency assistance, personal development courses and programs that help provide for families.
On June 5 and 6, Salvation Army volunteers again will take up posts at stores, train stations and intersections collecting donations to "Take a Bite Out of Hunger" during the Donut Days fundraising drive. Proceeds will help support the Salvation Army's food pantry and other programs. To volunteer, call (630) 629-3044, visit saobt.org or e-mail sue_linden@usc.salvationarmy.org.
Resource Development Director Susan E. Linden discusses the Oakbrook Terrace center and the Salvation Army's efforts to help the needy.
Q. What is your mission?
A. 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.
Q. How do you work toward accomplishing this goal?
A. We accomplish this goal by meeting the needs of the people in the community by providing a food pantry that is open 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays. We offer English instruction in our computer lab using the Rosetta Stone program. We provide holiday meals, angel tree, adopt-a-family, toy shop and character building programs.
Q. Who do you serve?
A. The Salvation Army Oakbrook Terrace Corps Community Center serves primarily Villa Park and Oakbrook Terrace, with service extension units serving the remainder of DuPage County. During the holiday season we are able to extend our service area due to the generous giving of our community
Q. When did the Salvation Army start? How has it grown?
A. The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 in London, England, by a Methodist minister named William Booth. It has now grown into an organization that serves suffering humanity in more than 118 countries of the world.
The Salvation Army began serving in DuPage County in the mid-1970s with the opening of the Oakbrook Terrace Corps Community Center.
Q. What kinds of successes have you had?
A. Every situation is unique and important just like the people we serve. We believe all people should be treated with dignity and care.
Jackie Mead, our full-time social service coordinator at Oakbrook Terrace, shares these small examples of what she experiences every day:
• A single mom with three children, one of them had duct-taped sandals to start the school year. We provided shoe vouchers for all the children.
• A homeless man was diagnosed with cancer and had no place to recuperate after treatments. We provided one week's lodging.
• A single mom and her child were abandoned here. We provided transportation home, out of state, for them.
• A single mom had a new baby with special needs who required an expensive baby formula, which we provided.
• A homeless man with circulatory problems needed special stockings, which we provided.
• A single mom leaving the emergency shelter needed help paying for her child's day care so she could work. We paid for one week of day care.
• An unemployed father with a family needed medication, which we provided.
Q. What challenges do you currently face?
A. The challenges we face are the same challenges many businesses today face. We have experienced an overwhelming demand for the services we offer, given the current economic climate. The struggle we face is not having the financial resources available to meet the current needs of our clients. We want to be the best stewards of the resources given to us and therefore we cautiously watch how money is spent and look at programs to be sure they are effective. We exercise prudent judgment in all areas of finance, human resources and programming.
Q. What do you wish the community knew about the Salvation Army?
A. The community at large is not aware we have a building located in Oakbrook Terrace and the wide variety of programs that occurs here. We have a gym that is heavily utilized, a worship center with services offered on Sunday, a food pantry, a kitchen and several classrooms that are used throughout the week. We have a community garden where people can grow their own vegetables. Special rates are available to community groups wishing to use our facility.
Q. How can readers get involved?
A. People can get involved by contacting us to volunteer, making a financial donation or offering a professional service at no charge.
We are also looking for professionals to serve on an advisory council. These varied ways individuals, businesses and organizations partner with us allow us to continue to serve our community most effectively.
Most of all, we are interested in building relationships. We care about the people who support our programs as well as those who are recipients of those programs.
Volunteer
What: Volunteers are needed for "Take a Bite out of Hunger" Donut Days
When: June 5 and 6
Where: Throughout DuPage County
Details: Volunteers collect money at stores, train stations and intersections
Why: Proceeds support local programming such as food pantry and other assistance programs; Donut Day is the Salvation Army's second-largest fundraiser
Info: (630) 629-3044, saobt.org or sue_linden@usc.salvationarmy.org
Vital stats
Funding sources: Red Kettle Campaign, Donut Day fundraiser, community contributions
Beneficiaries: Money goes into our summer day camp, holiday assistance, food pantry, utility assistance and other programs
Full-time employees: 7
Wish list: Monetary contributions; individuals or organizations to partner with through volunteering, donating or serving on the advisory council
Summer Day Camp sponsorships
You can sponsor a child for the six-week program for $280. Summer Day Camp is offered three days a week, June 16 to July 23. The camp includes Bible lesson, music, art, library and recreation time, snack time, computer time and a weekly field trip. Donations in any amount are appreciated.
Donations
Mail: The Salvation Army-Oakbrook Terrace Corps, 1S415 Summit Ave., Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181; Attn: Major David Gorton
Presentations
To request a presentation by The Salvation Army or to schedule a volunteer orientation workshop for your business or group, call Susan E. Linden, resource development director, at (630) 808-4165 or visit usc.salvationarmy.org.