Salvation Army continues fundraising for Maplecrest renovation project
The Salvation Army in Bucyrus kicked off its $1 million building fund campaign help with renovations of the former Maplecrest Assisted Living facility, which is the organization's new home.
Major Thomas Grace updated City Council on the project at Tuesday's meeting, noting the move to the new location at 717 Rogers St. allows for expanded services in Crawford County, especially in the area of food insecurity.
The Salvation Army rents the building for $1 from the county, which purchased it using funds from the OneOhio opioid settlement.
Increase seen in food insecurity
“One of the things that is alarming is that this issue is climbing among our seniors,” said Grace in reference to food insecurity.
He said when he and his wife moved to the area the Salvation Army provided about 20 food boxes to senior citizens each month. That number now is up to 60 a month, he said.
“It’s well over 60 seniors in our community that are depending on those boxes once a month. I would also say it’s probably much greater than that," Grace said, noting some of the seniors might not want to ask for help because of pride.
Moving to Maplecrest will allow the Salvation Army to establish a shop pantry where the clients will be escorted through the shelves to find the food they need and want at least once in a while.
Along with offering more options for the seniors, the shop pantry will allow the Salvation Army to reduce its efforts in packing the boxes.
One community stop shop, education opportunities
The new facility also could become a community one stop shop for other nonprofits and organizations, such as Alcohol, Drug, Addiction, and the Mental Health (ADAMH) Board.
A full time educator, in partnership with the Bucyrus City Schools, will be hired to help run the after school program for third and fourth graders who are not reaching the third grade reading level.
“We are looking for the director of that program,” Grace said.
Despite a concern in the community that the Salvation Army may duplicate some services other organizations offer, Grace said the army started in Bucyrus in 1889, which is earlier than most of the other similar organizations.
“If there is a concern about duplication of services, we are probably not the duplicator,” Grace said.
Pathway of Hope care management
Grace said the local Salvation Army signed up for the national army program Pathway of Hope, which is an intensive case management program that helps families achieve permanency and self-sufficiency.
Grace thanked Bucyrus residents for the support of the Salvation Army Christmas projects that allowed the organization to help 304 families, 449 children and 900 in total during the winter holidays.
“This is an amazing community,” Grace said.
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Bucyrus Salvation Army continues fundraising for Maplecrest renovation
