The Tyrone Salvation Army will be closed until May 15 because it is moving to a new location at 908 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Upon reopening, the Salvation Army is scheduled to be open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Along with helping those in need with their household bills, the Tyrone Salvation Army will now be able to furnish clothing and some food items, according to spokesperson Bob Maser.
He said volunteers will be working closely with the Tyrone Food Bank as well.
The Tyrone Salvation Army will be accepting clothing and food items starting May 15. It will also be accepting appliances, bedding, etc.
“We ask that you please give us good quality clothes and other items,” said Maser. “Everything given out will be free. There will be no charge, but donations will be accepted.”
Monetary contributions can be mailed to: Salvation Army Service Center, P.O. Box 142 Tyrone, PA 16686 and can also be dropped off at the 908 Pennsylvania Avenue location.
“The name will change to Tyrone Salvation Army Service Center. This means we will be one step closer to becoming a regular Salvation Army,” added Maser.
The Tyrone Salvation Army Worship and Service Center located on 10th Street in Tyrone shut its doors to the Tyrone community on June 30, 2004.
The Salvation Army’s Western Pennsylvania Divisional Commander, Lt. Colonel Joseph DeMichael said at the time, “Because Tyrone has a smaller volunteer base and no advisory board, a service unit is a practical alternative… Raising funds within Tyrone has always been challenging. We would prefer to use those limited resources for direct assistance, rather than spend them on operations and staffing.”
After the announcement of the closing of the Tyrone Area Salvation Army building in 2004, many were worried that services would not continue for those in need in the area.
Those worries were put to rest when Maser, Reverend Norman Huff and LeVonne Angelo, all of Tyrone, spearheaded the organization of the Tyrone Area Salvation Army in the form of a service unit located at the Tyrone Social Center.
The Tyrone Salvation Army was forced to find a new location when it was announced earlier in March of this year that the Tyrone Social Center was set to shut down after operating under the Tyrone Community Partnership.
In a previous Daily Herald article, the Partnership’s Scott Collinash said the biggest concern was a financial one. The Partnership financed the building through Reliance Bank.
The building was also used by several organizations and businesses that had until April 30 to vacate the premises, which included: Open Door Visions, Weight Watchers, the WIC program, a martial arts business and the Greater Grace Fellowship.
