Salvation Army continuing mission, recognized for "Salvation Army Week"

The Salvation Army of Owensboro doesn’t have any large events planed for “Salvation Army Week,” beyond one of its occasional weekend rummage sales, which will take place Saturday at its facility on Ewing Road.

Instead, the agency will spend the week doing what it does best, providing assistance to people in need.

“Salvation Army Week” was created by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954. Eisenhower issued a proclamation in honor of “this great body of unselfish men and women,” whose work had “given new hope to men, women and children, regardless of race and creed.”

In the region, Salvation Army units in Owensboro, Henderson and Madisonville served 57,585 meals and provided 6,671 nights of shelter to people in need over the past year. The agency also gave out just over 11,000 toys and gifts to children through its “Angel Tree” program.

Lt. Victor Haworth, one of the Owensboro unit’s co-captains, said the chapter feeds about 150 families weekly through its emergency food pantry, which is open Tuesdays and Thursdays. The unit also delivers meals to the homeless and others every week.

“We have a feeding program that goes out every Friday afternoon,” Haworth said. “We go into neighborhoods and areas of need and distribute food.”

That program, CanTeen, started in 2018, after two water mains burst outside OMU’s Plant A water plant, which has since been decommissioned. The water main break knocked out water to the city. Teen Salvation Army volunteers distributed water during the outage and while the city was under a boil order.

“After the repairs were made, the teens involved in the water distribution inquired about continuing, and that switched to the food program,” Haworth said.

The agency distributes 150 meals each Friday through the CanTeen program, to people who are homeless and to people who need a meal. The volunteers also give out personal hygiene items and occasionally clothing.

The agency provides utility assistance and other kinds of assistance on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Funds for electric and water bill assistance come from Owensboro Municipal Utilities and from donations.

The agency is preparing for its summer day camp. Haworth said the agency usually receives a grant to help families in need cover the $85 week fee for the 10-week day camp, but said grant dollars weren’t available for the camp this year.

The agency is seeking donations to help sponsor children in the day camp, Haworth said.

“A $350 donation would provide a partial grant for one youth” in the program, Haworth said. “That would reduce the cost for the parent from $85 per week to $50 per week.

“I have about a dozen to 14 requests for scholarships at the moment,” Haworth said. The camp still has some open camper positions and counselor positions.

To donate to the camp, or to support other Salvation Army initiatives, call 270-685-5576.