Tyrone Area Salvation Army volunteer chairperson Bob Maser has announced the Salvation Army Service Unit will now have a volunteer in its office at 120 W. 10th Street, Tyrone Social Center, from 9 a.m. to noon every Tuesday and Thursday until further notice.
Maser also said a new phone service is being installed, and the number will be released in the near future.
The Salvation Army has a post office box for donations or other mail, which is P.O. Box 142, Tyrone.
It was unclear if services would continue in the area when it was announced last year that the Salvation Army Worship and Service Center located on Tenth Street would close its doors to the community.
However, numerous volunteers stepped up to take on the responsibilities of the local Salvation Army by continuing its services to the community as a service unit. This allows for the Salvation Army to offer the same services to those in need in the Tyrone area, which includes Tyrone, Bellwood and Warriors Mark.
However, religious services are no longer available and an actual Salvation Army building no longer exists in the area.
Having the Tyrone Social Center as a base for the Salvation Army Service Unit is a step forward for volunteers.
The food distribution the Salvation Army once handled is now channeled through the Tyrone Food Bank, which is held at the Wesley United Methodist Church on Thursdays. Other services such as the Christmas toy distribution is continuing, as well as the annual Christmas kettle drives. Eighty percent of the money raised through the kettles goes directly back into the Tyrone community. The annual winter coat and boot drive also continues, with the help of the Tyrone Kiwanis Club.
Maser recently reported in The Daily Herald on December 29, 2004 that volunteers at the Tyrone Salvation Army Service Unit had a successful winter program turn-out from the community. According to Maser, the Salvation Army was able to give out 220 coats, 42 hats, 16 pair of boots, eight packages of socks and 14 pair of gloves this winter season.
“We served 91 families with Christmas food baskets, which served 238 individuals,” Maser added.
Out of the 91 families, 53 families received toys, totaling over 190 new toys given out.
Currently, there are 125 Salvation Army Service Units within the Western PA Division. Similar to a Service Center, a Service Unit offers basic social services within a community. However, the location may change depending upon volunteer and building availability.
Both a church and a social service organization, the Salvation Army began in London, England in 1865.
Today it provides critical services in 109 countries worldwide. The 28-county Western PA Division serves thousands of needy families annually through a wide variety of diverse support programs.
To learn more about the Salvation Army in Western PA, visit www.salvationarmy-wpa.org.
