Social Networking Sites and The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army sees the youth in our community as a vital resource not only for voluntary service but also as a our future leaders. Young people are wired into technology and look to social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace as a way to stay constantly connected. With this in mind, The Salvation Army of Battle Creek has created a fanpage on Facebook. The page can be found on Facebook at The Salvation Army of Battle Creek, MI. This page contains information about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and the programs & services of The Salvation Army. We continue to look for new ways to engage volunteers, donors, members and young people through technology.
The Salvation Army is a United Way Program Delivery Partner
Visit http://tinyurl.com/salbcpepsirefreshproject and vote for The Salvation Army in the neighborhood/$25,000 category. Our project will build a neighborhood playground.
This project will bring neighborhood residents, local businesses, and nonprofits together to create a safe place for children to play. Combining forces we can empower our neighborhood to make children and their safety a priority. The nearest playground is located across a four lane highway and the closest crossing light is several blocks away. Our neighborhood is primarily made up of families who are low income. A recent study (conducted by speaking with neighborhood residents across Battle Creek) found that families in our neighborhood are seeking activites that are within walking distance. They have limited access to transportation, by creating a new playground space we can help to meet this need.
Please vote once a day during the month of March for our Safe Play Project Thank you.
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The Salvation Army
Looks To The Future
In July of 2007 a twenty year dream was realized with the purchase of the McKinley School property. The purchase of the former elementary has been a tremendous blessing for The Salvation Army. The services we provide have truly been enhanced. To find out how we currently use the property, please read the article "McKinley School-What We've Done With The Place" (this article can be found in the drop down menu on our home page). This building has also made it possible for us to envision other areas of service The Salvation Army could provide to the Battle Creek community.
This vision includes opening the gym for an after school recreational program, using two classrooms for a teen drop in center which would include a game room, creating a space for adult programming & local groups to hold meetings, building a computer lab for youth & adults, solving our shortage of office & storage space and providing a 200 seat auditorium which can be used for worship & performing arts programs.
With our vision in mind, The Salvation Army set out to find an architectural firm to help us realize our next dream. Through this search we meet Isaac Norris of Isaac V. Norris & Associates, P.C. Isaac and his firm created a design that fills all of our dreams for the future. Dreams of continuing the services we've provided for the last 123 years in Battle Creek and dreams of being a positive partner with the residents of the McKinley Neighborhood.
Currently, The Salvation Army has 80% of the amount needed to build this beautiful addition. In the coming months we will work to acquire the other 20% needed. We hope to break ground in 2010.
In its 145 year history The Salvation Army has never settled for doing just the minimum. We're always evaluation where we've been, where we at and what else we could be doing to help our neighbors and our community. We believe this addition is the next step in doing more for the Battle Creek community.