The Republican, Wednesday, December 3, 2008 METRO EAST PLUS EP5 Salvation Army appealing for help By STAASI HEROPOULOS SPRINGFIELD In its modest headquarters on Pearl Street, the Salvation Army has a simple mission and a crucial mandate helping people. Some are struggling, some are in crisis, some just need a coat or hat. More than 30,000 people from across Hampden County turn to the Salvation Army each year for everything from food and emergen- If cy services to music lessons, tutoring, family reading programs, teen recreation, toys, and literacy training. The need never goes away, it never even slows down it just gets worse every year, says Salvation Army Major Thomas Perks. "We have noted a 40 percent increase across the board this year," he said.
"The Greater Springfield community joins with the rest of America in our current state of overall anxiety. Rising costs of food, utilities, housing and other necessities, coupled with layoffs, cutbacks, and foreclosures hovering over our heads like dark storm clouds are making people stand in fear of the storm," he added. Now the Salvation Army itself is appealing for help asking people living in the Greater Springfield community for financial assistance, food, toys, and volunteers to help promote the Army's mission. "Each day people come to the Salvation Army looking for help, not for the extraordinary, but for the basics of life. LEARN MORE -l For more information on the Salvation Army: E-mail: salvationarmy.org Visit www.salvation armyusa.org Call (413) 733-7581 If a person asks me, 'What do people need, what can I do to I share with them.
They need the same things that you and your family needs," Perks said. Established in 1865, the Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Nearly 29 million Americans receive assistance from the Salvation Army each year through a broad array of social services. The organization says about 83 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. "The good news is, like any other storm this too will pass and we can make it through.
When we share what we can, and it is joined with what other people share, it collectively impacts our whole society," Perks said. "I have much hope for our community as we stand together and look for God's blessings, but if people face this storm alone, they will certainly fall and we as a community become a little less having FARM Gift Shop 160 East Hill Monson, MA 413-267-3396 Christmas Trees, Fresh Cut Fraser Fir off 56 Wreaths, Garland, Cemetery Tributes Dept Villages Webkinz Yankee Candles Polish Pottery Bean Pod Soy Gifts for Everyonel Willow Tree Open Angels 10-5: Lamps Sal Sun Amish 9-5 Furniture 02188431 4 1 c. 74 Posing at an exhibit at the the Palmer Senior Center section of Palmer, Elaine Jane Pelski, also of Three who displays a winning Palmer PALMER A contingent from the Senior Center art class traveled recently to the Commonwealth Museum in Boston to receive awards in an annual competition hosted by Secretary of State William F. Galvin. Senior artists from across the state submit pieces each year in watercolor, oil, pastel, and cloth.
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3-g Thurs: 10-9 Sat. Sun. 10-4 14t Submitted photo Commonwealth Museum in Boston are members of art class, from left, Edna Mais, of the Three Rivers Carlin, of Monson, and teacher Julie Strempek and Rivers. Each holds her own work, except for Pelski, painting by Pauline Wojtowicz, of Three Rivers. artists honored in Hub second in oils, and Pauline acrylics.
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