SUMMER FAN PROGRAM HELPING SENIORS AND THE DISABLED
Donations Needed
The heat of summer is upon us as The Salvation Army is busy collecting and distributing new fans for its Summer Fan Program, June 10 - September 6, 2013. The fan program, now in its 33rd year, is critical because summer heat can pose dangerous health consequences for the elderly, ill or disabled. Last year, more than 1,083 fans were distributed thanks to the generosity of the Omaha community.
Fans are free of charge to qualified individuals. Applications are available at The Salvation Army Lied Renaissance Center, 3612 Cuming Street. The hours are 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 1:00-3:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. Priority is given to people who are 50 years or older and those with medical disabilities. Proof of medical disability is required when applying for a fan. Call 402-898-5866 for more information. New summer fans and bottled water are now being accepted. Monetary donations to purchase new fans are also needed. The retail cost of a basic fan is approximately $20. Fans and bottled water donations can be dropped off at The Salvation Army Lied Renaissance Center, 3612 Cuming Street, anytime of day. Monetary donations to the Summer Fan Program can be mailed to The Salvation Army, 10755 Burt Street, Omaha, NE, 68114. Online donations can be made at www.givesalvationarmy.org._
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Summer Food Service Awareness Week June 10- 14, 2013
Nebraska Appleseed is promoting the USDA's Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in Nebraska through a week of digital media posts, and the Omaha Salvation Army is a key participant. Omaha North Corps and Kids Cruisin' Kitchen will be showcased. Kids Cruisin Kitchen is a joint effort between The Salvation Army, Food Bank for the Heartland and Hunger Free Heartland.
In Nebraska 96,700 children, or 1 in 5, aren't sure where their next meal is coming from. These children are at high-risk for hunger during the critical summer months when school is not in session, as only 10% of those eligible for free/reduced school lunch are utilizing the USDA summer meals program.
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free, healthy meals to children age 18 and younger; however, many children cannot access these sites on their own and there is a lack of sites in Nebraska's rural and underserved areas.
The Summer Food Service Program Awareness Week is intended to increase awareness across the state of Nebraska about what the Summer Food Service Program is, showcase exemplary sites and compile information about how to start a new site for those interested in doing so. The idea is to promote those who are doing well with the program and remove some of the program's mystery and intimidating aspects.
Some other issues the Summer Food Service Program addresses:
Hunger increases children's risk for illness, obesity and other health problems and is one of the most severe obstacles to the learning process. Furthermore, childhood hunger is tied to increasing national healthcare costs, a less productive workforce and a perpetuation or poverty (Feeding America Report-Child Food Insecurity: The Economic Impact on our Nation). Of all lower income children living in Nebraska, just under half are overweight or obese. Regular access to healthy, nutritious meals can make a difference for these children.
Filling the summer nutrition gap is a top priority of the Omaha Salvation Army and our partner agencies. The Omaha Salvation Army operates six traditional summer meal sites in Greater Omaha, Lincoln, Fremont and Norfolk and - in partnership with Hunger Free Heartland, Food Bank for the Heartland and the Lancaster Public Health Department - nine Kids Cruisin' Kitchen mobile meal sites in Greater Omaha, Plattsmouth, Lincoln and Norfolk. Our traditional sites serve and average of 18,000 meals each summer; over 20,000 meals have been served in just two summers by KCK.
Look for stories, pictures, videos and a blog online at neappleseed.org
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The Salvation Army Lied Renaissance Center
Omaha, Nebraska
The Salvation Army in Omaha, Nebraska has an established history of providing high quality comprehensive care to people needing assistance in the Omaha area. The Salvation Army operates a multi-service campus located at 3612 Cuming Street, providing a variety of services to individuals and families across all life stages and circumstances. This facility is unique in the nation in terms of the variety of diverse programming offered on-site: including child and youth care, material assistance, case management and community outreach, senior services and spiritual care if requested. The Lied Renaissance Center campus is a micro-community with more than 200 people living on the campus on any given day. Such an array of residential care and services provide unparalled access within a holistic, integrated, and caring community environment. Below are some of the faces that have travelled through one of our programs.
The Salvation Army is the largest social service agency in the metropolitan area. It encompasses more than 20 programs that provide low-income people with food, shelter, clothing, disaster relief and counseling. The Salvation Army has served the state of Nebraska since 1888 and the city of Omaha since 1897.
About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.