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Salvation Army struggles through trying times
By Chris Wiebe
GLENDALE — A sluggish economy is taking its toll on the Glendale Salvation Army, where officials are seeing a 60% increase in clients who come to the relief center for food, and supplies just can’t keep up.
The spike occurred through November, December and January, in comparison to the same three-month period in 2006-07, Salvation Army Capt. Jim Sloan said.
“What we’re being told is that people are having to make decisions over paying their utilities or food, or paying rent over food,” he said. “We frankly can’t keep up with the demand that we’re seeing.”
The Glendale location is serving between 200 and 250 families each month and has not turned anyone away, dipping in to funding from other programs to make up the gap, he said.
Traditionally the army has two major food drives — one in May and one during the December holiday season — which supply the inventory for Salvation Army pantries throughout the year, Sloan said. But this year’s holiday food drive didn’t stretch any further than the first of the year, he said.
“Usually after Christmastime, we have enough food to last us in to May,” he said. “But this time it was gone in January and we’re scrambling to figure that out.”
In attempts to compensate for the increased demand, Salvation Army officials are reaching out to the community as well as the Boy Scouts and Glendale Kiwanis, who have provided much support to past efforts, Sloan said.
The Kiwanis will hold a drive among its 200 members at an upcoming April 4 meeting, incoming club President Ron Baker said.
Kiwanians are also reaching out to other community groups, such as the Key Club at Holy Family High School and the Action Club, which is affiliated with the Glendale Association of the Retarded, to generate as many bags of food as possible, Baker said.
“We’re putting it out to as many organizations in the community as possible to bring food that day,” he said.
Community members who want to participate in the Kiwanians drive should arrive to the Glendale Elks Lodge, 120 E. Colorado Street between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Food items or cash donations can be delivered year-round to the Salvation Army on 320 West Windsor Road, Sloan said.
“We just need help on this thing and what we’re looking for is primarily staples like beans, rice and pasta and those sorts of things,” he said.
In 2007, the Glendale Salvation Army served 2,500 families with grocery or utility assistance, among the 53 million meals the national Salvation Army served throughout the country.
Kiwanis officials are hoping their April Drive will spur the community to pitch into the effort, Baker said.
“The reason we’re doing this is not only to help, but to get awareness to the G community that there is this need,” he said.
CHRIS WIEBE covers public safety and the courts. He may be reached at (818) 637-3232 or by e-mail at chris.wiebe@ latimes.com.
The spike occurred through November, December and January, in comparison to the same three-month period in 2006-07, Salvation Army Capt. Jim Sloan said.
“What we’re being told is that people are having to make decisions over paying their utilities or food, or paying rent over food,” he said. “We frankly can’t keep up with the demand that we’re seeing.”
The Glendale location is serving between 200 and 250 families each month and has not turned anyone away, dipping in to funding from other programs to make up the gap, he said.
Traditionally the army has two major food drives — one in May and one during the December holiday season — which supply the inventory for Salvation Army pantries throughout the year, Sloan said. But this year’s holiday food drive didn’t stretch any further than the first of the year, he said.
“Usually after Christmastime, we have enough food to last us in to May,” he said. “But this time it was gone in January and we’re scrambling to figure that out.”
In attempts to compensate for the increased demand, Salvation Army officials are reaching out to the community as well as the Boy Scouts and Glendale Kiwanis, who have provided much support to past efforts, Sloan said.
The Kiwanis will hold a drive among its 200 members at an upcoming April 4 meeting, incoming club President Ron Baker said.
Kiwanians are also reaching out to other community groups, such as the Key Club at Holy Family High School and the Action Club, which is affiliated with the Glendale Association of the Retarded, to generate as many bags of food as possible, Baker said.
“We’re putting it out to as many organizations in the community as possible to bring food that day,” he said.
Community members who want to participate in the Kiwanians drive should arrive to the Glendale Elks Lodge, 120 E. Colorado Street between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Food items or cash donations can be delivered year-round to the Salvation Army on 320 West Windsor Road, Sloan said.
“We just need help on this thing and what we’re looking for is primarily staples like beans, rice and pasta and those sorts of things,” he said.
In 2007, the Glendale Salvation Army served 2,500 families with grocery or utility assistance, among the 53 million meals the national Salvation Army served throughout the country.
Kiwanis officials are hoping their April Drive will spur the community to pitch into the effort, Baker said.
“The reason we’re doing this is not only to help, but to get awareness to the G community that there is this need,” he said.
CHRIS WIEBE covers public safety and the courts. He may be reached at (818) 637-3232 or by e-mail at chris.wiebe@ latimes.com.
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