The staff at Family Haven felt
“blessed” to have eighth graders from St. Joseph’s Day School in Imperial, Mo. provide hours of service for the shelter on April 12th.

The group of students cleaned the Family Haven Child Center, a high-traffic playroom in the family shelter which serves up to 50 kids daily. Additionally, the students dug in and assisted the shelter with picking up the grounds, and deep-cleaning the dining area and administrative floor.

“Our group realized that what we accomplished in two hours would have taken the single groundsman days,” says 8th grade teacher Debbie Thomas.

After taking a tour of the facility, Mrs. Thomas challenged the students to imagine their family living in a small space without their daily pleasure such as iPhones or televisions.

“This experience has allowed my students to realize just how fortunate they are,” says Mrs. Thomas.

The experience at the shelter inspired Thomas and her group to take on the shelter as an ongoing project. During their tour, they learned more about the needs of the shelter, and Mrs. Thomas is hoping to work with her class next year to host a drive to meet those needs, collecting items such as stuffed animals, blow dryers, toiletries and books to provide comfort to the residents at Family Haven.

The group has spent much of the year doing extensive work and study on the issue of homelessness, and their volunteer service with The Salvation Army’s Family Haven shelter rounded out a year of exploring the important topic. Thomas says the trip to Family Haven reinforced an appreciation among the students for what they have, and a desire to help those who are less fortunate.

Family Haven’s staff warmly expressed their gratitude for the service provided by the students of St. Joseph Imperial,“The students are dedicated to the aspect of their religion that addresses serving their fellow man.”

Family Haven is a Community in Partnership program serving the homeless population in St. Louis. The program lasts 120 days where each resident is assigned a case manager and counselor to help them obtain a job and housing.

Their mission is to empower St. Louis residents to come to a place of self-sufficiency. Click here for more information on The Salvation Army’s homeless services.

The report was based on a survey of more than 1,000 Americans, conducted in February 2012 by a third-party research firm in advance of the 59^th annual National Salvation Army Week, celebrated this year from May 14-20.

“This report highlights the critical issue of poverty at a time when many Americans are struggling to get by,” said Major George Hood, National Community Relations and Development Secretary for The Salvation Army. “It is more important than ever to raise awareness of not only the public’s perception of poverty, but also the programs available to those in need. With the public’s support, The Salvation Army will continue to provide assistance.”

According to the survey commissioned by The Salvation Army and conducted on Vision Critical’s Springboard America panel, nearly 40 percent of Americans have requested help, including housing, food, financial and other assistance, from charitable organizations at some point in their lives. In particular, Americans with lower household incomes are much more likely to have experienced a lack of shelter, or a need to request assistance from a charitable group.

·        Thirty-eight percent of Americans have received assistance from a charitable group, including food from food banks or financial assistance/housing support.

·        Thirteenpercent of Americans reported having spent a night in a shelter or on the street due to a loss of housing.

Additionally, a majority of Americans believe people living in poverty deserve a helping hand, and sympathize with the challenges that people living in poverty face on a daily basis.

·        Eighty-eight percent of Americans believe people living in poverty deserve a helping hand.

·        Eighty-four percent of Americans believe it is almost impossible to survive on your own on minimum wage.

·        Seventy-five percent of Americans believe helping poor families sets up children from those families for success.

·        Sixty percent of Americans believe it is difficult to escape poverty once becoming poor.

However, there are a significant minority of Americans who are skeptical of the realities and reasons for poverty. Notably, the further a person is from poverty, the less common he or she believes poverty is in society.

·        Forty-nine percent of Americans believe a good work ethic is all a person needs to escape poverty.

·        Forty-three percent of Americans believe people living in poverty can always find a job if they really want to work, with twenty-seven percent of Americans reporting that people are poor because they are lazy.

·        Twenty-nine percent of Americans believe poor people usually have lower moral values.

·        In total, Americans believe approximately thirty-four percent of the general population is living in poverty. However, Americans who earn less than $25,000 a year believe forty percent of the population lives in poverty, while Americans who earn at least $50,000 a year believe twenty-seven percent live in poverty.

The Perceptions of Poverty report, which can be viewed on The Salvation Army’s website at www.SalvationArmyUSA.org, comes as The Salvation Army celebrates the 59th annual National Salvation Army Week with a variety of events and activities to honor donors, supporters and beneficiaries of Salvation Army programs. President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared the first National Salvation Army Week in 1954, proclaiming, “Among Americans, The Salvation Army has long been a symbol of wholehearted dedication to the cause of brotherhood. In time of war, the men and women of this organization have brought to those serving their country far from home, friendliness and warm concern. In the quieter days of peace, their work has been a constant reminder to us all that each of us is neighbor and kin to all Americans, giving freely of themselves, the men and women of The Salvation Army have won the respect of all.”

“We are proud to celebrate our donors, volunteers and supporters, not only during National Salvation Army Week but every day throughout the year,” said Major Hood. “As President Eisenhower recognized nearly sixty years ago, The Salvation Army is dedicated to serving our neighbors, families and friends in communities throughout America, and we want to take this time to give thanks to each person who makes this possible.”

Since The Salvation Army began its social service work in the United States in 1880, the organization has grown into one of the largest social service providers in the country. Each year, The Salvation Army directly supports 30 million Americans through a variety of programs including transitional and family shelters, feeding programs, senior centers, adult rehabilitation, education, athletic programs for kids and more.

Though the dates have changed since the first National Salvation Army Week, the work of The Salvation Army has not. The Salvation Army is calling upon all Americans to consider donating money or volunteering time to charities and organizations fighting poverty in local communities. Donors and volunteers can learn more about The Salvation Army, including further information regarding the Perceptions of Poverty report and National Salvation Army Week, by visiting www.SalvationArmyUSA.org.

The Salvation Army's Divisional Commanders Major Charles H. Smith and Major Lonneal Richardson meet with Governor Jay Nixon.

The call to engage in the community through public advocacy is a directive found throughout the word of God. The Salvation Army brought this advocacy to the Missouri capital through another successful legislative day.

Several Salvation Army officers, Advisory Board members and staff of the Midland Division, with added personnel from the Kansas and Western Missouri Division, visited with Missouri legislators during breakfast.

In addition, Salvation Army personnel were able to make their way through the Capitol to meet with individual legislators and staff members to share the message of how The Salvation Army is “key” to the community and how we provide cost-effective programming to residents without burdening state funds and taxing government programs.

The same information was shared directly during a positive meeting with Governor Jay Nixon by Major Charles H. Smith, divisional commander of the Kansas-Western Missouri Division and Major Lonneal Richardson, divisional commander of the Midland Division.

The Salvation Army was also introduced on both the House and Senate floors and recognized for their disaster relief efforts in Missouri.

On Tuesday May 15, 150 area professionals and social media enthusiasts will gather on the Moonrise Hotel’s Rooftop Terrace to network with one another, and to learn how to do good with their limited time. The event, sponsored by Vantage Credit Union is a Tweet Up, which allows social media newbies and experts alike to network, unwind and share the message and mission of The Salvation Army over Twitter and Facebook.

Simone Bernstein, founder of @STLVolunteen and @VolunTEENnation, and a regular blogger for The Huffington Post, will be the keynote speaker for the Tweet Up, discussing the importance of volunteering, and talking about ways that professionals can fit doing good into their busy schedules.

The Salvation Army will provide volunteer opportunities for those to attend to consider while they enjoy free appetizers at this one-of-a-kind venue. There will be door prizes, including a one night stay at Moonrise Hotel, raffled off at the event.

The cost of the event is a suggested donation of 3 non-perishable food items or a $5 donation, to benefit Salvation Army programs.To learn more about this event or to RSVP click here and #TweetTheMostGood.

Come celebrate the 2011 World Series Champion Cardinals and The Salvation Army at The Salvation Army Night at the Ballpark.  The Salvation Army is excited to invite you to a night at the ballpark to watch the Cardinals play the Cleveland Indians on June 9^th, 2012 at 6:15 pm.  Tickets for this event are $54 dollars and are located in the Lower Right Field Box Seats sections 127-131.

The Cardinals will be donating $29 of each ticket sold to The Salvation Army to assist The Salvation Army in “Doing the Most Good®,” in the St. Louis Area.  The needs of members of our community are greater than ever and The Salvation Army needs your help in assisting them, and remember the person you help may be the person next door.

Tickets for similar seats to this game are currently selling on the Cardinal website for $64 plus service charges of $11.00 per ticket, thus by purchasing tickets through The Salvation Army’s offer you currently save $21 dollars on your ticket price and make a donation to The Salvation Army.

Special promotions that night include:

1. Children 48 inches and shorter receive a child’s ticket to Six Flags*
2. Children 15 and younger receive a child’s ticket to a future home game this season.*

If interested in purchasing tickets please contact Tim Henry Director Planned Giving at 314-646-3016 or by email at timothy_henry@usc.salvation.org.

The Salvation Army looks forward to seeing you all June 9^th 2012 at 6:15 pm for a night of family fun, great baseball, and bringing a light of hope to those in need in the St. Louis Area.

*See Cardinals Promotions website for official terms and conditions of promotional items at http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/schedule/promotions.jsp?c_id=stl&y=2012.

On Saturday, more than 450 service men and women gathered at Soldiers Memorial Park for the Spring 2012 VA Stand Down, an event that provides services to homeless veterans.  The Salvation Army and 20 other groups attended in support of this event.

The Salvation Army served hot coffee and other refreshments to the veterans as they participated in the outdoor event in brisk weather. Each attendee was provided with opportunities to connect with services and resources including food, shelter, clothing, health screening, substance abuse treatment and more. The event ended with each person receiving a hot lunch, a treat for many who live on the streets, and a small care package.

Stand Downs are collaborative events, coordinated between local VAs, other government agencies, and community agencies who serve the homeless. The first Stand Down was organized in 1988 by a group of Vietnam Veterans in San Diego.  Since then, Stand Downs have been used as an effective tool in reaching out to homeless Veterans, reaching more than 200,000 Veterans and their family members between 1994-2000.

The Salvation Army’s Harbor Light Center in downtown St. Louis offers a program in coordination with the VA, which allows homeless or ill veterans an opportunity to take advantage of house rehabilitation and job services for up to 24 months, and is in the process of building housing for transitional veterans in downtown St. Louis. For more information on The Salvation Army’s veterans services, please click here.

Image Courtesy of Sedalia News Journal

On Saturday, April 14, Major Mark Haslett of the Sedalia Salvation Army attended the annual Sedalia/Pettis County NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet in support of an organization he deemed a worthy ally in his work, never expecting the spotlight would be turned on him.

“I believe shocked is the word,” he says laughing as he recalls the moment he realized they were honoring him as their local Man of the Year, “I’m still trying to figure out what I did to deserve it. It’s like Grace, I suppose. I have done nothing to earn it.”

Ida Shobe of the NAACP couldn’t disagree with Major Haslett’s assessment more, “You gotta do something to get that award. You gotta stand tall and that man stands tall for everybody,” she says adamantly.

“I love that man! You know what? That man sees no racism. He doesn’t know poor from rich. He helps everybody. I think that man, he is doing what Jesus wants us to do. I really believe that.”

When a storm damaged a nursery near her home, Ida reached out to Major Mark who sent out a crew right away to repair the nursery so taht they could reopen for business and help families.

“That’s the kind of man he is,” she says, “I love that man!”

Major Haslett and the Sedalia Salvation Army continue their work in the area, working with low income residents to provide food pantry services, and to help children in need find a safe place to play and positive role models.

“Major Haslett deserves this honor,” states Shobe emphatically, “He is truly Jesus’ helper.”

Panera Bread and Millwood Golf and Racquet Club are pairing up to host the 76 for 76 Golf Tournament for The Salvation Army’s Branson Corps.

The 4-person scramble will take place on Monday May 21st with registration beginning at 12:30 p.m. followed by a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m.

On February 29th, a powerful EF2 tornado tore through the Branson area causing damage throughout the community including at The Salvation Army’s Branson Corps. Total damage estimates at the Branson Corps now total approximately $170,000. All proceeds from the tournament will go directly toward helping the Branson Crops recover and allow the Corps to continue to provide assistance to those in need all year long.

“Panera Bread is proud and committed to giving back to the local communities that support us,” Sean Kosar with Panera Bread said. “We’re also proud and committed to supporting organizations like The Salvation Army, which helps Ozarks residents in need every single day.”

Registration costs $76 per player or $300 per team and includes the cart rental, range balls and a meal. In addition to Par 3 and putting contests, there will also be prizes given for the longest drive and closest to the pin.

Corporate sponsorships are available and giveaway items are currently being accepted!

Please make all checks payable to The Salvation Army Branson Corps with ‘76 for 76 Golf Tournament’ written on the memo line.

For more information please contact Elisa Kruger with Panera Bread at (417) 350-9060 or email elisa.kruger@ilovepanera.com

During the Branson-area disaster relief efforts The Salvation Army provided more than 4,500 meals, drinks & snacks to first-responders, storm survivors and clean-up crews. Taney and Stone county storm survivors were also provided with more than $16,000 worth of assistance – including vouchers for food, gasoline and to replace personal belongings. To hear directly from local residents who were helped by The Salvation Army during this time please visit www.youtube.com/TSAOzarkArea

        Who:      Panera Bread, Millwood Golf and Racquet Club, The Salvation Army

What:     76 for 76 Golf Tournament – benefiting the Branson Corps
Please make all checks payable to: The Salvation Army Branson Corps

         When:    Monday May 21st – shotgun start at 1:30 p.m.

         Where:   Millwood Golf and Racquet Club
3700 E. Millwood Drive Springfield MO

Left to Right: Halina Conti, Mary Reed and Donna Lewis stand at their bake sale outside of the H&R Block in Surrey Plaza.

By: Danni Eickenhorst

“My son was involved in the Good Friday tornado in Ferguson,” said Donna Lewis, Office Manager for H&R Block in Florissant, recalling her family’s close call with the destructive tornadoes that struck north St. Louis County last year, “and I was told that The Salvation Army was there right from the beginning and all the way through.”

As part of an annual tradition, the employees of H&R Block in Florissant along with Halina Conti of Ameriprise Financial, held a bake sale to benefit a local nonprofit. After seeing the

Employees of H&R Block present their donation to William Becker of The Salvation Army.

impact of the Good Friday tornadoes in and around their community, the employees chose The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services to benefit from the proceeds of their sale.

The bake sale raised just under $500 for The Salvation Army, to help those in need of disaster relief in the future.

“The minute I mentioned the name of The Salvation Army, our customers would jump up and make a donation,” said Betty Mills, Senior Tax Advisor.

Our sincerest thanks to H&R Block and Ameriprise for their generous support of our work!

Scott Egan is a homeless Vietnam veteran. Egan is going back to school, working and saving his money while living at the Salvation Army’s Harbor Light facility on Washington Ave. and he hopes to one day buy a home he can rehab himself. (Photo by Tim Lloyd, NPR)

By: Tim Lloyd, St. Louis Public Radio

The Department of Veterans Affairs is almost halfway through its national push to end homelessness by 2015.

And even though the agency says it’s making progress, there are still more than 67,000 homeless veterans in America.

That has the VA reaching out more and more to community partners as key allies in its battle to end veterans homelessness.

In this first installment of a two-part series on veterans’ homelessness, Tim Lloyd reports on how the national initiative is strengthening local partnerships in St. Louis.

Having a stake in life again

Scott Egan is sitting on a concrete stoop watching cars zip down Washington Avenue.

The Vietnam veteran with a full white beard pauses, then recalls his time in combat.

“I can pretty much see the face of everyone I killed,” Egan says. “I don’t have a soldier’s rationalization that I fired my weapon and I don’t know if he died or not.   All I knew is that when I got back I didn’t want to do that for a living anymore.”

After three tours of duty as an army sniper he retrained to be a medic and ended up staying in the military for 34 years, deploying to combat zone after combat zone.

Somewhere in all that violence he developed post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

He started drinking too much, ignored his health, lost his job, sold his home.

Today he says his life is back on track thanks to housing provided by the Salvation Army and psychological treatment through the VA.

“We work and we save our money so that when we walk out of here we have a stake in life again,” Egan says.

LISTEN: Scott Egan, who is currently staying at the Salvation Army’s Harbor Light center on Washington Ave., talks about the various social services where he’s received the treatment that he says helped him get his life back on track.

What’s working for Egan, a mix of services from a community provider like the Salvation Army and the VA, is a key part of the local plan to end veterans homelessness.

And construction is underway on an effort to expand this type of collaboration.

Expanding collaboration through construction

Salvation Army Captain Adam Moore stands at the edge of the construction site for a new, 48-room veterans housing facility in Midtown Alley. The facility will be run as a partnership between the US Department of Veterans Affairs and the Salvation Army. (Photo by Tim Lloyd, NPR)

When completed this modern looking building in Midtown Alley will be the Salvation Army’s new 48-room housing center for homeless veterans.

The project is setup to work in close partnership with the VA and residents will have access to services ranging from addiction treatment to job training.

Salvation Army Captain Adam Moore, a big easy going kind of guy, stands at the edge of the construction site.

“The only analogy that I really have for it is the Salvation Army, and the VA and other groups have been dating for lots of years,” Moore says. “But we’re married now, and we’re in it for the long haul.”

LISTEN: In addition to collaborating with the VA, Salvation Army Captain Adam Moore talks about how a partnership with the US Department of Defense is structured to help soldiers transition back into their lives at home.

Casting a wide net for veterans and solving complex problems

The accelerated push by the VA to have closer ties with community organizations started in late 2009.

That’s when Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki said this at the VA’s Summit on Homeless Veterans:  “My name is Shinseki and I am here to end veterans homelessness.”

Iraq war veteran Dwain Sliger was at the summit back in 2009 and says it gave him chills when the whole room “stood up and applauded. It was tremendous…”

Today he administers Project HERO, a housing program for homeless veterans operated by the St. Patrick Center, a local Catholic charity.

Launched in 2008, the project partners with the VA to help move homeless veterans into permanent housing.

Last year the St. Patrick Center received nearly $1 million from the VA to fuel three separate programs aimed at homeless veterans.

Sliger can rattle off success stories now, but says collaborating with a federal agency wasn’t always easy.

“I don’t know how many hours we sat trying to figure out how this guideline that we have from a federal level can be incorporated at the local level to make it a win-win for everybody,” Sliger says.

LISTEN: Dwain Sliger says Project HERO, which is based in a trendy part of Washington Ave. in St. Louis is breaking down stereotypes about homeless veterans.

The end game for everyone, he says, is to create as wide of a net as possible to catch veterans before they hit the streets.

And when they do, the problems can be too complex for a single agency to handle on its own.

Joanne Joseph coordinates the VA’s homeless program in St. Louis.

She says expanded partnerships are helping them move out of a one-size-fits-all mentality.

“Locally, we’re going to individualize those services, so, on a community level then down to the individual veteran, ‘what does that individual need to get to the place they want to be?’” Joseph says.

But there could be big challenges on the horizon as veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan continue to struggle in a tough economy.

That has Missouri and Illinois mustering resources to help veterans find jobs.

In Missouri more than 1,800 employers have signed a pledge to interview and recruit veterans.

And in Illinois veterans can get individualized employment help from a source they’re likely to trust, another veteran.

This story and all audio/video courtesy of St. Louis Public Radio, all rights reserved by St. Louis Public Radio. To read it in its original form, click here.