Salvation Army opens doors for second annual open house

For years people would ask Major Mervyn Halvorsen what happens behind the doors of the Salvation Army.

To let the general public and community groups know just what the organization does, they decided showing might be better than telling. On May 5 the organization opened its doors for a second annual open house.

“We’re hoping to make this a regular event and hopefully each year we’ll get different people in so they can understand a little bit more about what the Salvation Army does and how we contribute and help in the community,” said Halvorsen, the executive director of Thunder Bay’s Salvation Army.

Through its numerous programs, the Cumberland Street-based organization helps thousands of people each year in the city.

“Some might be regular, some are one time,” Halvorsen said. “They need help for one moment; we can give that to them and they are able to carry on. For others, it might be a longer-term process. We work with them so they can become more independent.”

The Salvation Army operates in 400 communities across Canada and offers a variety of programs that include their food bank and soup van, resume-building and other job application tips, anger management, emergency disaster services and correctional and justice services.

They also provide residential services for men, including an emergency shelter.

The emergency shelter is a transitional period where a person will have a place to stay while the Salvation Army helps them look at ways to back into stable accommodations and work with them to get jobs or back into school.

The more long-term residential service has seen some of the men make it their home; Halvorsen said a couple of them have been there for almost 30 years.

Thursday’s open house is part of the Army’s Dignity Project – an initiative launched in March to educate the public about the reality of poverty.

“Everybody has the human right to dignity and sad to say there are so many people who aren’t able to get it,” said Halvorsen. “So many things are out of reach. They can’t find a bed at night or clothing to put on; it’s worn out. Or food to eat, food to give to their children or toys.

“We’re working together with the community, with this wonderful country we live in, ot bring dignity to those who have been suffering to make a difference.”

For more information on the month-long Project Dignity events visit http://www.salvationarmy.ca.