Ever wonder what happens to those used donations you give to The Salvation Army?
The Salvation Army staff members point to the mess that has been growing lately at the back of its building. Now, do you want to help staff members stop this from happening?
This time of year, many are cleaning out their family’s used belongings to make room for Christmas gifts and looking for a place to donate.
The Salvation Army staff members welcome good-quality used clothes, books and toys that are bagged in small bags and that can be put inside the bins in the back parking lot.
If you have larger items or many bags that are too heavy, please call the pick-up number 1-800-SA TRUCK, and you can arrange a Salvation Army truck to come to your location to pick up at a time that is convenient for you.
All used goods donations are picked up every Thursday and brought to a distribution center in Altoona, sorted and disbursed to Salvation Army stores.
All the proceeds for those stores go to The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. This is a program for men in recovery that helps those in need of services from all over western Pennsylvania.
This vital program houses 39 men who may have been living on the street, addicted to substance, not working and many times involved in crime. Through this vital program, they receive therapy and treatment to help them become responsible members of society.
Because it is a Christ center program it does not qualify for any government funds and all proceeds come from the stores, which are only kept running through used donations.
When the donation boxes are used to dump non-usable items or useable good donations are left to the inclement weather, The Salvation Army ARC program has to pay to remove and trash those items.
The director of the Altoona ARC Major Lloyd said “Each year the Altoona ARC spends over $100,000 in dumping fees. This is money that could be used towards the program and education of the residents in the program.”
In order to help cut down on this growing problem, please be guided by these:
- Any donations of new toys, coats or food to be given to our Clearfield community families for Christmas can be brought to the front door weekdays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Small bags of used goods donations can be placed inside the donation bins in the back parking lot. Nothing should be left outside the bins.
- For large donations of used items (even over three to four bags of clothes), call: 1-800 SA Truck, and a truck will come to you. It is easy and convenient for you and ensures that your donations are not ruined or stolen.
Also, once a donation has been placed on Salvation Army property, it is theft to take from the bins and is punishable by law. Those in need of emergency clothes are asked to call 814-765-4981 to receive information on applying for a clothing voucher.