AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Salvation Army of Aiken received a $2 million donation from South Carolina lawmakers for a future shelter and $150,000 for current operations. The funding comes as the organization prepares for summer, when demand for food and services is expected to rise. Captain Michael Good said the need has doubled in the past year across the shelter, food pantry, and youth center. “We are experiencing just astronomically high numbers and I know we say that quite a bit but it just keeps growing,” Good said. “For instance, our food pantry need has doubled year over year, our soup kitchen has doubled, and requests for assistance, including utility assistance, have almost tripled.”
Summer increases demand
Summer sees kids out of school, leaving some families without free breakfasts and lunches and parents searching for reliable childcare. The Salvation Army sees some of the most need during this time, especially in its youth center and the already strained pantry and shelter. Summer typically brings increased use of cooling centers and homeless shelters due to heat. As food and gas prices rise, more families line up for meals at the shelter and the pantry. “We’re running extremely low on food,” Good said. It takes nearly $1,000 a week to keep the pantry full. The organization still serves 250 hot meals a day through the shelter. “Kids are out of school, more mouths to feed,” Good said.
Youth center provides summer support
The Salvation Army operates the Red Shield Youth Center, which functions as a day camp free to families through donor sponsorships. The program allows parents to work or look for jobs during the day. “We do provide quite a few scholarships to the community for the kids to come and have a safe place to go during the summertime,” Good said. “We provide breakfast, lunch and two snacks to the children, but sponsorships are the greatest need that we have,” Good said. Good said the services can stretch the organization thin as demand continues to increase.
Funding for immediate and future needs
The Salvation Army’s Table of Hope event last week raised $125,000 to help people through the summer months. The $2 million from the South Carolina Legislature will go toward construction of a new Center of Hope shelter and service center for the Salvation Army in Aiken. The new building, full of wraparound services, is still in the very early planning stages. “We were just completely blown away when the state of South Carolina earmarked $2 million to go toward a facility,” Good said. Captain Good said it is part of the vision to help meet the growing needs in Aiken County. “We’re excited about what lies ahead as we continue to journey this,” Good said. The Salvation Army is taking donations to feed and shelter people who need help, especially during the summer months.
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