Weight: 270 lbs.
Mood: Exhausted
Water Consumed: 2 Nalgenes
Breakfast: 2 Hard Boiled Eggs
Lunch: Tomato Soup, granola, orange
Dinner: Chicken wings, sweet potato, green beans
Hangry Thought of the Day: Can you explain orbital resonance?
The Salvation Army Northern Division has been helping out communities in Minnesota since 1887. That's a LONG time. Now we are all probably familiar with their stores and bell ringers, but you probably don't know that this is just a small part f what their organization does. I got to have an interview with Julie Borgen, to learn more about what their organization does for the Twin Cities:
What is the Salvation Army Northern Division's Mission Statement, and how do you help citizens in need here in Minnesota?
The Salvation Army Northern Division’s mission statement is:
Motivated by the love of God and led by the Holy Spirit to be the hands and feet of Jesus, the Northern Division is called to save souls, grow saints and serve suffering humanity through intentional outreach and innovative programs.
The Salvation Army’s International mission statement is:
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
· The Salvation Army is a safety net for thousands of people in the Twin Cities. We provide food, housing, financial assistance, youth programs and more, to anyone who needs them, without discrimination. With help from our generous donors and volunteers, we serve about 187,000 people in the 10-county metro area. The Salvation Army is a global Christian organization founded more than 150 years ago in London, England.
Six Services
Our six areas of service include:
· Basic needs Including food, clothing, shelter, financial assistance and transportation· Youth services Everything from day care, summer camps, after school programs, sports and music, Bible study· Disaster relief· Housing We provide both temporary and long-term housing for youth and adults· Rehabilitation We offer free or low cost drug and alcohol rehabilitation in our faith-based programs· Counseling We provide assist with everything from learning life skills, to finding a job or connecting with needed resources. We counsel in prisons, assisted living facilities and in all of our centersMany of us are familiar with Salvation Army store fronts, but can you tell us about some of your other programs? What area foes Salvation Army North cover?
1) The Salvation Army Northern Division serves people throughout Minnesota and North Dakota. We have over 800 employees and nearly 68,000 volunteers who help.
· We provide food, shelter, clothing, financial assistance, counseling, free or very low cost drug and alcohol rehabilitation, Christmas toys and winter coats for children, school supplies and more. The Salvation Army also provides disaster assistance locally and around the globe, supporting survivors with food, water, shelter and emotional and spiritual care.
· When you give to The Salvation Army throughout Minnesota and North Dakota, 82 cents of every dollar goes directly to help people in need.
Locations in Minnesota & North Dakota (including the Twin Cities)
· Worship and Service Centers: 26· Housing/shelter facilities: 50· Food shelves: 22· Salvation Army Stores: 31
Services we provide
· Hot meals served annually: 771,780· Bags of groceries given: 186,000· Nights of lodging: 381,508· Items of clothing given: 204,014· Christmas toys given: 148,919· People given disaster assistance: 28,923· Inmates visited: 1,147· People attending Northwoods Camp in Finlayson Minnesota (for free) : 946· Total people served: 375,514 in 2015
Can you tell us about the history of Salvation Army North?
The Salvation Army began operations in the Twin Cities in 1886, six years after coming to America. The organization was founded in London, England by William and Catherine Booth in 1865 and now has centers in more than 120 countries.
What are some of the challenging aspects that you everyday working with an organization like Salvation Army?
· Helping people is an increasingly complex task. Many of the people we serve face challenges like having enough food, a stable home, keeping their lights or cell phone turned on. It is very difficult for people to work on building a better future, when their immediate needs are not met. We seek to help provide the safety net they need, while encouraging them to work with our social workers to solve some of the underlying problems in their lives that keep them in crisis.
· The lack of affordable housing is a real issue facing people in the metro area, in particular. As we work to help move people into stable housing, that is a huge challenge.
· Generating the resources required to meet the needs of the people we serve is an ongoing task. The Salvation Army’s Northern Division has an annual budget of $68 million. That’s money we need to raise each year through donations and government funding.
The Salvation Army is celebrating a new program called The Pathway of Hope that encourages families to sign up for intensive case management with a social worker. The idea is to encourage people to invest their time in a program that connects them with resources and helps support them on a path to a more stable future for themselves and their children.
· Another win we enjoyed this year: We received a $500,000 check in one of our red kettles in Rosemount, Minnesota during our Christmas Campaign. It was from an anonymous donor and it was the largest check ever dropped into a red kettle in the history of The Salvation Army. It made national and international news and gave us a much needed boost to our most important fundraising season.
Are there any upcoming events you want our readers to know about?
The MOST Amazing Race returns for the 11th year in a row. This time the event is moving from July to September 24th. It’s modeled after The Amazing Race on TV and it’s a great opportunity for people to enjoy a day of physical and mental challenges, compete for big prizes ($5000 is the top prize), all while raising money for a great cause.
Can you tell us a little bit about your Youth Services? What does it cover, who does it help, and what does the program look like?
We provide youth services ranging from licensed child care to after school programs, athletic teams and summer camps. The Salvation Army operates a youth shelter in St. Paul, and offers a youth-only food shelf, as well. In areas of outstate Minnesota and North Dakota, The Salvation Army delivers meals to children during the summer months through the Mobile Outreach Meals program. http://salvationarmynorth.org/community/mankato/community-news/free-or-low-cost-summer-meals-available/ In St. Cloud we have partnered with St. Cloud State University to help children who are homeless. The S.M.A.R.T. Kids program (Support and Mentor through Arts, Recreation and Tutoring) helps children talk about the realities of homelessness and helps to give them the skills to learn and thrive. http://salvationarmynorth.org/2016/03/new-program-to-help-youth-of-homeless-families-cope/
Where can I find out more about the Salvation Army?
[The best way is to join us on the web]: www.SalvationArmyNorth.org
How can I support Salvation Army?
The Salvation Army relies on generous donors and volunteers to serve the people of Minnesota and North Dakota. There are volunteer opportunities in every community all year round, you can find those here, or you can make a donation to support your local community.
Don't forget, if you like this blog please help us in trying to end Childhood Hunger here in the Twin Cities. For more information about Salvation Army go to click here! Thanks for your help!
You can also find out more about Salvation Army Northern Division on Social Media at
Facebook: Salvation Army North
Please help spread the word of this project!
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