Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
Supporter help Break Ground on the new Pacific Street Corps: left to right: Salvation Army Advisory Boardmember Kristine Scott, Field Representative for San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos, John Futch, Bill Leman, San Bernardino Mayor Patrick Morris, Salvation Army Advisory Boardmember Brian Cronin, Lt. Kathleen Griffins, new Corps Officer Capt. Anaya Henderson, new Corps Officer Major Dan Henderson, Division Commander Major Lee Lescano, San Bernardino Valley Community College District Trustee Dr. Kathleen (Katy) Henry, Salvation Army Advisory Boardmember Jack Katzman, California State Assemblymember Cheryl Brown, Salvation Army Advisory Boardmember, Tom Brickley.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The Salvation Army appreciates the financial support its donors can provide. The San Bernardino Corps will recognize many of these donors on Friday, May 16 with a luncheon.
Supporters who have donated $100 or more to the San Bernardino Corps within the last 12 months prior to the luncheon or will donate at the event is invited.
“This will be a wonderful event to learn about all the exciting things our Corps is doing,” said Tom Brickley, chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board. “We will give a full report of what we have done this year and we will have testimonials from some of the people whose lives have been impacted.”
This luncheon takes place, for the last time, at the Corps Headquarters Building at 746 W. Fifth Street.
“The Salvation Army has been using this building for more than 50 years, but we will be moving to a beautiful new building in October,” Brickley said.
The luncheon coincides with a fund-raising effort the Salvation Army used to refer to as the Fall Fundraiser, which was last held more than 18 months ago. The Salvation Army’s goal for this usually annual fundraiser is to generate at least $50,000 in donations.
The fundraiser typically was held in October. Since the current Corps Officers, Major Daniel and Captain Anya Henderson, were newly arrived in San Bernardino last October the advisory board decided to postpone the fundraiser until spring.
While supporters who donated $100 or more are invited to attend the luncheon, the fundraising effort has resulted in some exceptional and greatly appreciated donations of $5,000 or more. These donors will be given special recognition as members of the international Salvation Army’s William Booth Society.
Locally, the honorary chairman of the William Booth Society is Bill Leman, a partner in the San Bernardino law firm Fullerton Leman Schaeffer & Dominic, Leman, for several years, has spearheaded the fundraising efforts, with help of the Advisory Board and other volunteers.
“I would urge everyone, business owners and individuals to give during this year’s fund raiser,” Brickley said. “The Salvation Army in San Bernardino does great things which impact the lives of those less fortunate than we are. The Salvation Army has been in San Bernardino since 1887, and has always impacted the lives of those less fortunate. Today, it is doing so more than ever.”
Brickley also noted the Salvation Army delivers about 85 percent of its revenue to programs rather than administration, which is a much higher percentage than most charities.
This fund raiser, although it did not take place in 2013, is typically the one in which the San Bernardino Corps takes in the most revenue for day to day operational costs. Its other large fundraiser, the holiday Red Kettle Campaign, helps more with the many extra services the Salvation Army provides at the end of the year.
Year-round, the San Bernardino Corps of the Salvation Army operates a homeless shelter for women and families, which provides both emergency shelter and longer-term help transitioning to independent living. It also has a separate transitional living program for men, feeds hundreds of people dinner six nights a week, operates a vast array of youth programs, and provides other resources for those in need.
“Last year 52,504 free, hot, nutritious meals were served to the hungry from The Salvation Army’s homeless shelter and Sunday through Friday at 4:45 p.m. at the Corp Office on 746 West 5th Street in San Bernardino,” said Major Henderson.
“Homeless families received 16,500 nights of shelter last year. Many supportive services are provided with each night of shelter including: meals, laundry, hot showers, tutoring and case management,” said Anne Metu, MILR, CADC-II director of the Transitional Housing Center.
For more information or to make a donation, call the San Bernardino Corps headquarters at (909) 888-1336. You may drop off your donations at the headquarters building, located at 746 W. Fifth Street, San Bernardino.
