CLEARFIELD – On the hill above Market Street sits a building that is a beacon of light and hope.
This building, The Salvation Army of Clearfield Worship and Service Center, has recently and very unfortunately been the victim of vandalism, according to Captain Helen Johnson.
The Salvation Army offers many services to the community and continues to expand its offerings.
There is currently a food pantry that is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.; an emergency disaster services program; financial assistance; a community garden; support groups for adults; after-school programs; a mobile “Lunch & Literacy” program; and much more.
“In addition, to the surprise of many, The Salvation Army is a welcoming church,” says Johnson. She adds that The Salvation Army partners with many other community agencies to offer seasonal programs.
“As one can imagine, our small building and property is used for many things. Most of our programs run on a very tight budget and are dependent on donations.
“We strive to take the best care of our property in every way. We work hard to take care of it and ensure the grounds are safe for the kids that come here and all that use the property.”
Following some recent vandalism, Johnson says The Salvation Army staff would like to make it clear that the property is not for public use.
She explains that there are donation bins located at the rear of the building for bagged, usable donations.
She says these donations are picked up weekly by a separate branch of The Salvation Army, a rehabilitation center for individuals in recovery.
According to Johnson, the community is asked to put donations inside the bins. If you have larger donations, please call 1-800-SA-Truck, and arrangements will be made for a truck to pick them up.
“Loitering, stealing from the bins or unauthorized, use of the property is prohibited,” she says. “In fact, to protect children, we do not allow anyone on the property that we have not cleared through necessary clearances”
Johnson would like to thank the community for its help in keeping The Salvation Army building and property safe for those in need of its services and programs, as well as for respecting its church.
For questions and or information on volunteering or donating, please call 814-765-4981.
Celebrating over 150 years as both a church and a social service organization, The Salvation Army began in London, England in 1865. Today, it provides critical services in 129 countries worldwide.
The 28-county Western Pennsylvania Division serves thousands of needy families through a wide variety of support services, including emergency disaster response and support to both first responders and victims of disasters.
To learn more about The Salvation Army in Western Pennsylvania, log ontowww.salvationarmy-wpa.org.