Salvation Army: New Grant, Partnerships Expand Medical Care for Springfield’s Homeless Population

Classes, Housing and Food
Majors Butch and Lisa Frost were appointed Corps Officers of the Springfield Salvation Army in August 2017. Their top priorities included increasing community outreach and identifying ways to serve The Army’s clients with dignity. SA Group Life is offered on Wednesday nights in six-week sessions, with a couple of weeks in between. Classes are free and open to the public, and our residents in our two housing facilities participate, as well. The food pantry at The Salvation Army now allows clients to choose what they want as opposed to being handed a bag of food they may not like or be unable to eat. This small change has made clients feel more valued, and has reduced the amount of food waste.

Respite Care Partnership
The Salvation Army, The Kitchen, Inc., and Women’s Medical Respite are currently meeting a growing need for respite care for Springfield’s homeless population. This is a service provided to homeless individuals who have been released from the hospital, but are not quite ready to be on their own on the streets. The three agencies received a Collective Impact Grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks for $19,160. The Kitchen, Inc. currently employs a full-time nurse, who will now spend some time with respite care clients at the Harbor House and Women’s Medical Respite. Funding supports the expenses associated with this expansion.

Fundraising
The Salvation Army has partnered with Chick-fil-A for years in different ways but recently the two local affiliates of the chicken chain helped close out the Christmas fundraising season by hosting bell ringers. The two locations also held a spirit day for The Salvation Army and raised over $3,300 in the four-day period.

“These partnerships with our donors and volunteers are imperative to help us on our mission to impact lives in an immediate and permanent way,” says Jeff Smith, Community Relations/Grant Writer Director.

• 1707 W Chestnut Expy Springfield, MO 65802
• (417) 862-5509
• salvationarmyspringfield.org
Salvation Army Harbor House
• 636 N Boonville Ave Springfield, MO 65806
• (417) 831-3371