Salvation Army in Gwinnett
When most people think of The Salvation Army, they think of the beloved brass band and the woman with bonnet and tambourine on the corner of America’s main street. The image is right out of a scene from Norman Rockwell.
Some might find it easy to view The Salvation Army, often called America’s Favorite Charity, as Victorian, antiquated, not really relevant to today’s culture and society. In Gwinnett County however, The Salvation Army is anything but irrelevant. One of the oldest humanitarian organizations in the U.S. came to Gwinnett County just over 35 years ago and it proved that it was anything but antique. With a fresh energy and desire to serve the county, The Salvation Army began helping others with counseling, food, and financial assistance. Since The Salvation Army is an evangelical branch of the Christian church, worship services also began for the whosoever paving the way for a more holistic form of social service. In just three decades The Salvation Army’s service and scope in the Gwinnett community has grown tremendously. “We’re only able to be what the community allows us to be”, says current commanding officer Captain Bobby Westmoreland, “And Gwinnett has allowed us to be reflective of the community that we serve, which is exciting, changing, relevant, and cutting edge.” Truly the support of the Gwinnett community has made The Salvation Army special in this county.
About four years ago The Salvation Army added a state of the art center to it’s Gwinnett location. This community center, located on Sugarloaf Parkway, provides a place for worship and service. At this center, you will find the Gwinnett office for Family Emergency Services, a special social service program that offers support and hope to families in crisis. In 2006 alone nearly 5000 families were saved from homelessness through The Salvation Army’s homeless prevention program. The Salvation Army has expanded its ability to assist the Spanish and Korean speaking community by making sure all programs are accessible in their languages. An exciting program new to Gwinnett County is the Catherine Booth Institute for Parenting. With educational opportunities, counseling, budget preparation, advocacy for single parent families, support groups, and a number of other efforts, this program is determined to make a positive impact on the health of families throughout Gwinnett County.
Each week at The Salvation Army’s community center in Gwinnett, youth will find a safe place to enjoy life changing character building programs. The Salvation Army’s Adventure Corps for boys, and Girl Guard and Sunbeam programs for girls, offer exciting opportunities for young people to challenge themselves and learn new skills. Each summer The Salvation Army sends hundreds of needy Gwinnett kids to their beautiful summer camp in the North Georgia Mountains.
The Salvation Army began the Gwinnett Conservatory of the Performing Arts around three years ago, and since that time it has grown into a model of programs of this type. The Gwinnett Conservatory has been offering young people and adults alike, the opportunity to realize their dreams and potential in the performing arts at minimal to no cost. The Salvation Army provides scholarships for this program to disadvantage youth eager to find a new source of hope for the future.
The exciting, “At the Loaf” program seeks to provide a safe haven for youths involved in the “grunge” scene. Begun by a concerned group of parents who witnessed the dangers of garage parties and the kind of fringe activities that could occur, this program offers a venue that is safe and accessible to these young people on Friday nights. Counseling and advocacy is offered by trained staff at this venue, and the goal is to provide a safe environment without drugs or alcohol.
The Salvation Army Emergency Services continues to assist our community in times of disaster. During Katrina, volunteers and trained staff jumped into action and assisted more than 20,000 survivors with food, clothing, and other basic necessities. Today the Salvation Army continues its recovery phase for these survivors by offering intensive case management and social services through the Katrina Aid Today office.
The Salvation Army is ever adapting to the changing needs of the Gwinnett Community and is currently looking at opportunities and stategies to tackle some of the most difficult problems plaguing our community. With a holistic approach, and the transforming love of God, The Salvation Army continues to march forward out of a strong past into a hope filled future.
