Two years ago, the worship center at the 704 Central Avenue location closed, but the Salvation Army itself never shut its doors.

Now worship services have been reinstated and Lt. Samantha Lockhard and Linnea Carlson are on the front lines, determining new ways to help the community.

“The nice thing about the Salvation Army is although we are a worldwide organization, each individual location has the freedom to meet their community’s specific needs, all motivated by our love for Christ,” Lockhard said.

PROGRAMS

OBSERVER Photo by Nicole Gugino The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign began Friday. Donations benefit programs like the food pantry and the after school basketball/tutoring program.

The Salvation Army’s largest program is its food pantry which is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays. The volunteer-run pantry is open to all Northern Chautauqua County residents in need.

“We service on average 150 families a month, which is about 400-450 people per month including children. Individuals who find themselves in need can come in and we offer a variety of items. We are a client-choice pantry and I think client choice is important because it really helps people maintain their dignity and sense of self determination because it gives them choice instead of just coming in and grabbing a bag of food. So we try to offer variety of non-perishables, canned goods, pastas. We pretty much always have a frozen meat option as well as bread that’s donated by Tops. We’re always in need of donations from the community,” Carlson said.

She added the food pantry also stocks diapers, baby formula and hygiene products.

“We service on average 150 families a month, which is about 400 to 450 people per month including children. Individuals who find themselves in need can come in and we offer a variety of items. We are a client-choice pantry and I think client choice is important because it really helps people maintain their dignity and sense of self determination because it gives them choice instead of just coming in and grabbing a bag of food. So we try to offer variety of non-perishables, canned goods, pastas. We pretty much always have a frozen meat option as well as bread that’s donated by Tops. We’re always in need of donations from the community,” she explained.

The Salvation Army also runs an after school basketball/tutoring program that aims for children to direct their focus beyond sports.

“It’s not just a basketball program, it’s reliant on their educational achievements as well. The coaches get their progress reports and report cards from the school district, so if a child is missing too many assignments or not doing well in school, they have to participate in the tutoring so that they can play on the basketball team. It really encourages the kids not to just focus on athletics, but to focus on their education as well. They also just started doing other activities like an art program on Saturdays for children that aren’t currently playing, but are waiting for their team to play. We’re just trying to encourage the kids to not just focus on sports, but every aspect of who they are as a person,” Lockhard explained.

The Salvation Army also held a back-to-school supply event in September and just wrapped up its Bundle Them Up! campaign to give winter coats to children and the Christmas Assistance meal program and Angel Tree program for the community to sign up to give needy children gifts. Lockhard said all these programs were inspired by the need seen in the community and she hopes to do a clothing program as well, but needs to find the funding.

Through these programs and partnerships, the Salvation Army strives to be a true social service center.

“We have really been trying to embody what it means to be a social service community center and that means opening it up to different organizations and services that we can collaborate with. Right now we rent out space to the Jamestown Business College. They have a bilingual program that’s been incredibly successful in the Dunkirk area, so we’re happy to host them here. We also host a local Girl Scout troop, as well as Narcotics Anonymous. Then for the benefit of our clients we also try to host individuals that offer their educational services, so we recently have collaborated with the EatSmartNY program on nutritional education classes, which were a hit. That’s really to expand our pantry services to not just providing that emergency relief, but also providing that educational component,” Carlson said, adding the nutrition program has been a hit in getting clients to try new food provided in the pantry.

WORSHIP

Beyond being a service center, the Salvation Army was a church first. For a two years the Salvation Army shut down worship services, but it never closed its doors.

“In 2014, the Salvation Army stopped being a center for worship and service in the Dunkirk area and turned into just a center for service. The church component did shut down in this area for numerous reasons and it was then overtaken by the Salvation Army in Jamestown. Captain (John) Merchant has worked extremely hard to keep the doors open here and we never actually physically closed. I don’t think a lot of people realized that, that the doors remained open. Hours had to change and things like that, but I would say over the past year and a half or so there has really been a big push to make sure we’re open five days a week. Then in February we started holding church services here again and really pushing to make the Salvation Army the best that it can be for this community,” Lockhard explained.

Worship services have been reinstated on Sunday mornings as well as a Bible study class and structured fellowship on Tuesdays.

“I think it’s important too for our clients know we offer church service because there may be people in need of things like food and clothes, but they may also be in need of that fellowship. I know that we have had a few clients that have expressed to me their excitement and joy that the church is open. It’s important for the community to know the church is here and that we have more to offer than social services,” Carlson said, mentioning it has brought back a sense of home for some.

RED KETTLE FUNDRAISER

In order to forward its mission, maintain its programs and maybe even add more, the Salvation Army depends on the generosity of the community, especially during its biggest fundraiser of  the year — the Red Kettle campaign.

“That is our big fundraiser for the year. The money from that allows us to provide the services we provide throughout the year. So, depending on how bad or how well we do on the kettles depends on how much money we have to spend on our programs,” Lockhard explained.

Bell ringers can be seen at 10 locations across Northern Chautauqua County.

Aside from your spare change, Salvation Army could also use your spare time and is in desperate need of bell ringers to cover shifts.

“As you pass the kettle, donate, but our kettles are manned by all volunteers, so we heavily rely on individuals who are willing to give up their time to help,” Lockhard said, adding you can pick your schedule and can count it as credit toward community service.

Lockhard herself will be out covering unmanned shifts and has devised a unique way to draw awareness to the need for bell ringers.

“During the kettle season to bring awareness to our need for bell ringers we are going to be running this vintage kettle campaign. Whenever I end up having to stand out with the kettles, I will have one of the old cast iron kettles, I’ll be wearing an old Salvation Army bonnet and a cape, which is the traditional garb the ladies would wear back in the late ’50s, early ’60s. So it will be something new for some, but for those who were involved in World War II and that time, I’m hoping they will remember and will encourage others to be involved,” she explained.

For assistance, information or to donate or become involved call 366-3701 and check out The Salvation Army of Dunkirk NY Facebook page for updates on programs, opportunities and events as well as a way to spread the word.