Salvation Army offers community support for all ages
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The Salvation Army, founded in 1865 in London by William Booth, under the name "The Christian Mission," has been serving the Williamsport area since 1885, when three Salvationists from Elmira, N.Y. set up shop, with an aim towards helping those in need.
Today, the organization boasts an expansive set of programs for residents of all ages, including children and youth, music and character building offerings, including the Brownies and Cub Scouts adjacents, Sunbeams, Girl Guards and Adventure Corps., under the leadership of Corps Officer/Pastor Major Sheryl Hershey.
Hershey has been involved with the Salvation Army from an early age when her babysitter took her to some of the youth and the music programs offered by the organization.
"I grew up through the Salvation Army and their programs, and then felt the calling to be an officer," she said.
Hershey would be transferred to Williamsport in 2021, after serving at the Berwick Salvation Army for five years.
"We have a weekly Sunday school that we call Kids Club, a Bible study, as a women's group that happens on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. that any woman from the community is welcome to come to," Hershey said.
Another program, entitled Golden Agers meets twice a week, where seniors and their caregivers meet for two hours over lunch time.
"It's called Golden Agers because it started out specifically for seniors in our community, but we've recognized a need and expanded the program to add adults with disabilities," Laura Templeton, community relations & resource development director said.
"It's a really good opportunity for folks to get together, socialize and have fun," she said.
During the growing season, the Salvation Army operates a community garden and urban farm that provides around 12,000 pounds of fresh produce to the community at no cost.
The farm, located along Park Avenue next to the Y, is managed by advisory board member Sid Furst, along with volunteers from the community.
"We also have some raised beds and areas of the garden where families, businesses or individuals can have a plot to grow their own things," Templeton said adding that there is an application process due to having limited space.
By far, the most utilized community offering is the Salvation Army's food pantry.
"Clients can come in every 30 days to receive a box of food, walk through with a volunteer and choose the items they want," Hershey said.
"We try to simulate actual shopping as much as we can. It's more empowering for them to be able to shop for their own food for themselves and their family," she said.
Allowing clients to choose their own items has led to far fewer returns, Hersey said.
"When I first arrived here, we were handing out packed boxes, and a lot of them were coming back with food in them because there are certain things they can't eat because of medical conditions or religious practices, or maybe there's just certain things they like," she explained.
"We partner with the Central PA Food Bank. We are able to order food from there, and every year we get a grant to use to order that food," Templeton said.
"For Christmas we do a food box with a turkey, and we also do toys if they have children under the age of 12," Hershey said.
Toys for the program are provided by Toys for Tots as well as donations from the organization's Angel Trees, which are set up around various businesses and churches.
To participate in the Christmas program, clients must fill out a form and provide identification for their children, such as a birth certificate or social security card, as well as income and expense information.
"It's a very simple process. They fill out one form, they sign the second form, and they're done," Hersey said, adding that throughout the Christmas season, the organization services between 500 and 600 families.
Signups for the Christmas program are open from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2:30 p.m., with a lunch break in between, Tuesdays and Thursdays in November.
With winter weather at the doorstep of the area, Templeton also noted that, dependent on funding and grants received by the organization, they also offer rent or utility assistance for those experiencing temporary hardships.
The Salvation Army also operates a hygeine closet, which similar to the food pantry, provides those in need with a number of personal care items such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, razors, shaving cream, toothbrushes, toilet paper and sometimes laundry detergent sometimes tissues and diapers, all made available through donations.
"We ask clients to try to make one request every 30 days, but we know that with children with diapers, sometimes that's not possible if they fall on hard times," Templeton said.
Help for victims of fires, flooding and other natural disasters, as well as support for local first responders on the front lines during a disaster response is offered through their Emergency Disaster Services (EDS).
The Salvation Army also operates a thrift store, located at 530 Lycoming Mall Drive, Muncy, providing the community with access to inexpensive, gently used clothing and housewares, with all proceeds going to support the organization's local programs and services.
Vouchers are also provided to those facing emergency situations, including those fleeing domestic violence, that can be redeemed at the store.
With the organization offering so much to the community, new volunteers are always welcome.
"They would just have to come in and see us, and we would talk to them. There is a program on the computer where they would sit down and fill out the areas that they're interested in helping us with, and then they would give us some days that they're interested in volunteering, and we would just put them to work," Templeton said.
"Our philosophy at the Salvation Army is that when people fall on hard times or have difficulties, we want to give them a hand up, not a handout," Hershey said.
"We're trying to help people until they can adjust their budgets or maybe get another job if they've lost their job or if they're having a medical issue and they're on leave and have lost some of their income due to that, all kinds of scenarios. We're just trying to help people fill a gap if they've fallen on some hard times," Templeton added, which Hershey stressed is at the heart of what they do.
"For me, it's about being available to help people who are in need, people who sometimes come in embarrassed because they need help, but don't know where to go," she said.
"It's about being able to help somebody step up and take them from one level to another," Hershey said.
Anyone interested in volunteering, donating to, or participating in any of the Salvation Army's many offerings are encouraged to reach out to the organization through their website, www.pa.salvationarmy.org/williamsport-pa, by phone at 570-326-9187, via their Facebook page or by stopping in to their office.