Salvation Army

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- You helped make a little girl's Christmas wish come true. Eight-year-old Kailey Stilwell was shocked when she came home to see her room redecorated in her favorite color, purple.  KY3 viewers voted online which bedroom Kailey should come home to.  The makeover was made complete thanks to Ashley Furniture Home Store and the Salvation Army. Both of Kailey's parents had recently been laid off, unable to provide furniture or decoration for her bedroom.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The growing need for food assistance among the working poor in the Ozarks got a boost during the recent food drive by postal carriers across the area. In all, letter carriers collected more than 121,000 pounds of food which residents left by their mailboxes on May 12th. Several agencies will share in the food collected in Springfield, including the Salvation Army, The Kitchen, Grand Oak Mission and Victory Mission.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- The holiday season is a time when some charities raise the money they'll need to help people throughout the next year.  But some are finding it hard to reach their goals this year. The Salvation Army says it's only 70 percent of the way to it's goal, about 20 percent behind where they were at this point last year.  Isabel's House Crisis Nursery isn't even half way to this year's goal. At Isabel's House, their mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect, by providing parents a place to take their children in a crisis or medical emergency.

The Salvation Army 's offering free Emergency Disaster Services training sessions. The courses are designed to educate those with little-to-no disaster experience how to handle a situation. "Trained EDS volunteers are vital in helping The Salvation Army respond quickly and efficiently during a disaster or crisis," Major Norman Grainier said. "The Salvation Army and its trained EDS volunteers are often among the first on scene during a disaster or crisis helping serve victims and first responders.

The 20th Annual Spring Geranium Sale is underway. It's sponsored by The Salvation Army's Women's Auxiliary. Geraniums are on sale now through May 9th or while supplies last. The Salvation Army tells us, "Each year, proceeds benefit the Springfield Corps' after-school program, Summer Day Camp, and help provide Easter clothing for children living in The Salvation Army's Family Enrichment Center. The Family Enrichment Center provides transitional housing and practical support for families that are homeless or are in crisis.

It's a month-long push to help local kids in need have a Merry Christmas. From now through December 22, the Salvation Army has teamed up with local Walmart and K-Mart stores for it's annual Angel Tree benefit. Customers can take a tag off the trees located at the front of the store, buy the items listed and drop them off in the donation boxes when they leave.      The toys and blankets will be distributed just before Christmas.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- An anonymous donor dropped a gold coin that might just be worth a pretty penny into a Salvation Army red kettle. The Salvation Army will investigate the coin, which could be worth much more than its $5 face value.  A Wikipedia entry pegs the value at $145. The coin donation comes just days after another anonymous donor dropped four silver coins into the kettles in the Springfield area.  One of those coins said, "The Right to Privacy. " Another coin said, "The Right to Counsel.

JOPLIN,Mo. -- The Salvation Army will continue to provide emergency care to Joplin residents who have lost their homes, jobs and possessions as the Emergency Disaster Services Recovery Center moves to the heart of The Salvation Army Oasis at the corner of 26th Street at Main Avenue, the heart of the disaster. The EF-5 tornado that ripped through Joplin left behind more than 6,000 homes destroyed and mangled.  The Salvation Army continues to serve meals, snacks, refreshments and provide spiritual care.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Winter's bitter grip -- hostile and unforgiving on a clear Monday night -- is the driving force behind some people's journeys from the Springfield streets to the Salvation Army's doors. "Keep from freezing to death," said Robert Offutt. When temperatures plunge to single digits, word spreads of this place and people pour in from the streets. "From Jefferson (Avenue)," said Jerry Johnson, indicating from where he walked to get to the Salvation Army's facility on Chestnut Expressway at Kansas Expressway.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Salvation Army's Tree of Lights Christmas Campaign has come up short of its fundraising goal. Through Thursday, the charitable organization reports its $244,000 under its $1 million dollar goal.  The Tree of Lights Campaign began before the Thanksgiving holiday. "We greatly appreciate everyone who has donated to support our efforts in the community," said Major Norman Grainger.  "It is truly only through continued community support that the Salvation Army is able to help so many Ozarks' residents in need" The Salvation Army spreads the donations throughout Greene, Christian, Taney, and Stone Counties throughout the year.  Assistance includes an emergency food pantry, housing, and community outreach.  "Donations allow us to help families put food on their tables, provide shelter for those who have nowhere else to go and operate safe and affordable programs for children and senior citizens," said Grainger.