"The Salvation Army serves the people of the Midlands 12 months of the year," said Major Richard L. Jones, Area Coordinator at The Salvation Army in Columbia. "We serve a meal to the homeless six days a week, provide case management to the homeless, offer spiritual guidance with a church downtown as well as one in Irmo, operate a Family Thrift Store, and help restore utility services to people experiencing financial crisis."

Consider these service numbers from the 2008 calendar year (January 2008 to December 2008):

• 1,125 homeless individuals received assistance with basic needs and were assigned a case manager;

• 76 homeless individuals established a permanent residence while receiving active case management;

• 135 homeless individuals increased their monthly income while receiving active case management.

• 54,228 meals were served;

• 568 homeless individuals received transportation assistance for employment, medical care and mental health care (4,539 bus tickets issued);

• 1,718 clothing vouchers were issued;

• 647 hygiene kits were distributed.

In 2008, The Salvation Army was placed on standby for response to Hurricane Gustov and was activated for both hurricanes Hannah and Ike. For Hannah, The Salvation Army provided staffing and all meals for the State Emergency Operations Center. The Salvation Army's response to Ike was more prolonged, sending four teams for two week deployments to Tyler, Texas, where staff and volunteers distributed food, water, clean up kits, and other necessary items to people affected by the storm.

"The Salvation Army provides a hand- up, not a hand- out," said Major Jones. "Our mission is to present hope by pointing people to the One who gives hope."

Donations to support The Salvation Army may be mailed to P.O. Drawer 2786, Columbia, SC 29202.

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