On March 8, outside The Salvation Army’s classroom doors, a miracle occurred in the midst of chaos.

A young pregnant woman in labour walked into The Salvation Army facility that houses the Army’s current school and clinic in Port-au-Prince. She had no time to make it to the nearest working hospital, 40 minutes away.

Staff member Dee Smith, a licensed emergency medical technician, quickly cleaned and cared for both mother and child. Within the hour a doctor was on the scene and both received a clean bill of health. Baby Neldine will receive clothes from The Salvation Army. This is the ninth baby born at Salvation Army facilities since the earthquake.

The Salvation Army in southern Chile has been officially recognized by the government and will continue to provide immediate and long-term assistance in assigned zones.

A Salvation Army church in Hualpencillo, near Concepcion (which suffered great devastation), is serving meals, and tents have been set up on the property to house those whose homes were washed away by the tsunami caused by the earthquake. A well dug more than five years ago on the property, to water the lawns and gardens, is now providing fresh spring water to hundreds of families.

Salvation Army vans and other vehicles are delivering hot meals, substantial breakfasts, supplies of water, first-aid essentials, blankets and candles. Chile’s Salvation Army missing persons department is locating loved ones.

The Salvation Army has been working in Chile since 1909. The international Salvation Army continues to provide financial assistance and emergency teams are delivering whatever practical assistance is required.

On Tuesday, March 9, 2010, the W. Garfield Weston Foundation presented a donation of $1.5 million to The Salvation Army Homestead in Toronto, a residential recovery program for women who are struggling with substance abuse issues, for urgently needed building renovations.

The donation from the Foundation will provide much needed infrastructure renovations in the heating, plumbing and electrical systems, and the installation of an elevator will enable Homestead to support women with mobility restrictions.

“We greatly appreciate the generous support of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation,” says Major Elizabeth Price, Executive Director, Homestead. “The renovations will make our residential space cleaner, safer and brighter and will enable us to serve a broader population of women by offering new services as we give women new hope for recovery.”

The donation was made in honour of the late Miriam Burnett, who devoted 30 years of hard work as Chairman of the Foundation. Says Charles Burnett III, son of Miriam Burnett, “Over her lifetime, my mother dedicated herself to extending kindness and understanding to those in need.”

ABOUT THE HOMESTEAD

The Salvation Army Homestead, located in downtown Toronto and in Scarborough, is a residential, day and community-based program for women 18 and older who are dealing with substance abuse issues.
Treatment options are: a ten-week residential program that houses 18 clients at a time in downtown Toronto; a ten-week day treatment program at the downtown site; a ten- week day treatment program located in the heart of Scarborough.

Salvation Army programs are holistic and abstinence-based. The treatment model includes relapse prevention, life skills and twelve-step classes, group and individual counselling. Trained staff support women on their journey to recovery and self empowerment, in an atmosphere of warmth, acceptance and safety.

The Homestead also offers community-based programs for women who may not be participating in residential or day programs. They include relapse prevention, anger management and after care. It also offers a support and information groups for friends and families of its clients.

The Homestead was founded in 1955 in Toronto and was located in another building for a few years. In 1961, the present location at 78 Admiral Road, became available and has been helping women at this location since.

It’s exactly eight weeks since a massive earthquake rocked Haiti Jan. 12, leaving an estimated 200,000 dead, a country in ruins, and untold injured and homeless.

As time has gone on, the world’s eyes have turned to new problems, but the crisis in the tiny Caribbean nation continues and Metro Monctonians are still finding ways to lend a hand. Li is heading to Haiti with the Salvation Army. He is a member of the Moncton congregation of the church.Read full story…

Dr. John Li of Moncton is going to Haiti to work and help the people of the country that was devastated by an earthquake in January.

Photo by RON WARD/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

OTTAWA, March 5, 2010 – The proposed changes to the Disbursement Quota announced yesterday in the 2010 federal budget are widely supported by The Salvation Army. The removal of the quota will provide The Salvation Army; one of Canada’s largest charities, with increased flexibility in meeting the needs of Canadians during a time when more and more people are turning to charities for help.

“We are very pleased with this announcement” said Colonel Floyd Tidd, Chief Secretary of The Salvation Army. “The proposed changes will allow us to better respond to the needs of the people we serve in 400 communities across Canada”.

The Salvation Army was also encouraged by the federal government’s plan to introduce a Prime Ministerial award for volunteerism. The award; announced in Wednesday’s Speech from the Throne, will “recognize the enormous contribution volunteers make to Canada”. While the announcement of the new award was a small part of the speech, the initiative is hoped to have a considerable impact on encouraging volunteerism in the charitable and non-profit sector.

“Volunteers play a vital role in every corner of our organization from program delivery to fundraising to governance, and we certainly support the government’s initiative to recognize the incredible contribution volunteers make to communities across Canada” said Colonel Tidd. “Canadians generously give 1.3 million volunteer hours to The Salvation Army every year”.

As the largest non-governmental direct social service provider in Canada, The Salvation Army depends on thousands of volunteers every year. The iconic Christmas Kettle campaign, which raised more than $18 million in 2009 in Canada, relies on tens of thousands of volunteer hours to staff the red kettles across Canada.

About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 119 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community.

News releases, articles and updated information can be found at www.SalvationArmy.ca

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For further information please contact:

Michael Maidment
Federal Government Relations
613-795-8898
michael_maidment@can.salvationarmy.org

Captain John P. Murray, APR
416-998-0117
John_Murray@can.salvationarmy.org

The Salvation Army in Canada is sending US$58,000 to assist Chile with ongoing relief efforts following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated much of the country. Read the full story

Following Chile’s devastating earthquake on February 27, the immediate need is still food, water and medicine. Read the full story

A 40′ container packed and sent on November 30 has arrived safely at The Salvation Army’s Howard Hospital in Zimbabwe. The Howard Hospital continues to be one of the only fully operational public hospitals in the country, providing medical services for 155,000 patient visits a year.

The shipment took three months to arrive. The container was filled to capacity. It included an ultrasound machine, ECG machine, fetal monitor, 3,000+ boxes of medicine and medical supplies, crutches, canes, an electric scooter, toilet paper, scrubs, used clothes, 700 pairs of shoes, educational supplies and more…

The Salvation Army in Canada has a working relationship with a group of people from the Trillium Hospital in Mississauga. This group (headed up by Dr. Michael Weinberg and his friend Bert Amato) solicit donations of money and goods on behalf of Howard Hospital. The Salvation Army holds the funds they raise. When they have gathered enough material to fill a container, The Salvation Army provides volunteers to load it, and then pays the shipping invoices from the funds held for this group.

The most recent American Idol, Kris Allen, recently visited Haiti and toured The Salvation Army camp in Port-au-Prince. With the intent of bringing awareness to relief efforts in Haiti, Kris visited with staff, played with children and, through an interpreter, spoke with camp residents.

During his visit, Kris helped with the Army’s registration process issuing new ration cards as part of a new UPS Trackpad program. The Salvation Army is replacing handwritten paper index cards with high-tech barcode technology to ensure that families receive food, shelter and medical supplies in a highly efficient manner. UPS donated the technology and adapted it for disaster relief supply distribution.

FAST FACTS

As of February 23, 2010:

• 2,900 tents have been delivered
• more than 19,000 individual patients have received medical care
• 500,000 gallons of water has been supplied
• 16 cargo flights have delivered supplies
• more than 3 million meals have been delivered

Donations are urgently needed to help the Salvation Army Thrift Store overcome an unprecedented shortage of clothing and furniture.

“We would normally have mountains of clothing. Now, we have nearly bare floors,” said thrift store manager Kathy Lippert. “It’s hard to keep up with the needs when nothing’s coming in.”

The new year has presented new challenges at the Wyandotte Street store. Usually, furniture donations are made in January, as many people will donate the items after getting new furniture around Christmas. Read full story…

Source: Orillia Packet