Posted on April 19, 2007
Old Man Winter’s lingering presence is affecting more than just students’ spring wardrobes; the Salvation Army Shelter in Harrisonburg is running low on money.
The Salvation Army serves the community by providing shelter and social service programs to those in need in the community.
“We try to live by doing the most good,” said Area Director of Financial Development Julia Walsh-Hornick. “It’s not our motto, it’s not our logo, it’s just our way of thinking for our community and in our community.”
At full occupancy the Shelter can house approximately 72 individuals. Walsh-Hornick said some residents are there to escape domestic abuse or violence, others are coping with substance abuse, and some have come on hard times, lost jobs and may be behind on paying their rent or mortgage.
“We’re here to help whoever is in need,” she said.
It costs $8 per day per individual to run the Salvation Army shelter. At full occupancy it costs $576 per day including administrative costs, meals, and utilities. For the past four months the shelter has been operating at 89 to 100 percent occupancy.
“We weren’t prepared for that in our budget,” said Area Director of Financial Development Julia Walsh-Hornick.
She also said that only about 15 percent of the Salvation Army’s funding comes from federal or state grants.
“We really rely heavily on individual donors and corporations in the area to support us,” she said.
The majority of funding comes from these donations and all proceeds from sales at the Salvation Army thrift stores also go to the shelter.
Extended winter weather is also responsible for the shelter’s financial troubles, according to Walsh-Hornick.
“Sales were down because the weather was bad,” she said. “People were not out shopping and donations weren’t coming in.”
Walsh-Hornick added that the shelter noticed they weren’t receiving the donations they had in previous years. Individual donations go directly to people in need.
“It can be their trash but another person’s treasure,” she said.
Walsh-Hornick also said that sales at the thrift store were down this winter. She said that some items sold in thrift stores can support multiple residents of the Shelter a day.
Hunger and Housing Service Coordinator with CS-L junior Dani Goodson works directly with the Thrift Shop and volunteers and said that the Salvation Army receives the least amount of volunteers.
Freshman Janelle Nadeau said she does not think enough students know about the organizations need.
“It seems like they need more volunteers,“ she said. “Maybe if they made it more well known people. People are always willing to help.”
