Vail Valley Salvation Army - MERGED

A nonprofit organization

The Vail Valley Service Extension Unit of the Salvation Army provides emergency services and strives to meet human needs, in an effort to promote self-sufficiency

Testimonials

Vail Valley Salvation Army provides a safety net for individuals and families who may not qualify for other forms of assistance.

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- I had some time off this fall so I decided to volunteer for the local
Salvation Army to help them out. What I didn't know is how much my time volunteering would help me out. My duties as a volunteer varied daily but I was amazed at the sheer volume of families of all income ranges that are seeking help in our valley. I know my time was well spent and I feel very good about the people I have meet, both clients I have served and fellow volunteers. I can encourage anyone to give their time and assistance to our local Salvation Army to really feel like you are making a difference. - MK Pistole

- As a member of this community for more than twenty five years I have participated in a number of Salvation Army fundraisers including the golf tournament and bell ringing. I never could have imagined that I could find myself in need of the Salvation Army's help. A change in the economy lead to a business failure and I found myself out of work and unable to pay any bills, including health insurance. My family braced for some tough times, but I had no way to anticipate how bad it could really get.
My wife developed a life threatening illness that we were forced to face and our life's savings went quickly. Struggling to meet even my
children's needs was impossible when someone suggested that we contact the local Salvation Army. Although initially hesitant I found there an amazing group of people willing to listen and help. I learned about local services and charities in our valley that were set up to help struggling community members like my family. While our crisis is far from over I feel a new energy in my spirit at least in part from the support and kindness I have been shown. -

- The Vail Valley Salvation Army has helped me with food and medications. If it weren't for them I would have struggled so much. I love the Salvation Army. They are a knight in shining armor. -

- I have been a resident for 6 years in this beautiful valley. The Vail Valley Salvation Army has been a blessing to me and my family in great times of need. Salvation Army thanks for being a vessel to help those in need. -

- The encouragement I received from the staff of the Vail Valley Salvation Army was awesome. They helped me with food and a bus pass to look for work. I was really down and feeling depressed. They lifted my spirits and helped me make it through this unusually long and hard winter. -

- I am very grateful for all the help they have given me. I have been able to get out of difficult situations when I needed it the most. My family and I are very grateful. May God bless you for all the help you give to us. -

- I am very grateful with Salvation Army. They helped me with rent and to obtain my driver's license, and sometimes with food. Thank you for your help. -

-I am here to volunteer because you folks saved my life. When I came to you I was in a wheelchair and homeless, and now I want to give back. You gave me food. You gave me help. You gave me hope.

- I was helped with my vehicle and it was a great need. The tires were bald and the breaks were down to the metal and the Vail Valley Salvation Army saw to it that things were taken care of. -

- Thank God this program exists. They have helped us a lot. We are unemployed, and if it weren't for them, we wouldn't have anything to eat. We are very grateful for this. May God continue blessing each and one of the people working in this program. -

- Thanks to Salvation Army, they have helped me a lot with food and diapers. -

- I am very grateful with Salvation Army. They helped me with rent and to obtain my driver's license, and sometimes with food. Thank you for your help. -

-I am a long-time Vail Valley resident. I have worked for Vail Resorts since 1992.

I have volunteered dfor several functions, fund raisers. My life has been enriched by the experence I've had volunteering and as a working member of the Vail Valley.

Since I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, I have been overwhelmed and challenged financially, spiritually, physically, emotionally and socially.

The introduction of possible financial assistance to me from any source was an outpouring of emotion, acceptance and relief.

The money that Salvation Army pledged for assistance to procure my mortgage payment offered me an abundance of relief. I found myself supported in my endeavor to figure out new options to keep these imperative monthly bills satisfied, rather than fearing my debts and feeling hopeless.

I hope that I am able to return this huge assistance to me for another person in need in the Vail Valley.

Thank you!

Best, Mary T.-

Mission

The Vail Valley Service Extension Unit of the Salvation Army provides emergency services and strives to meet human needs, in an effort to promote self-sufficiency

Background Statement

The Vail Valley Salvation Army was established in Eagle County in 1983 to address the needs of stranded motorists traveling the I-70 corridor. As the population of the valley grew the role of the Salvation Army expanded to address the needs of a growing community. We started out with a volunteer part-time caseworker. The needs expanded so a part-time, 10 hour per week caseworkeer was hired. The Director was a volunteer. Finally, in 2004, we hired a part-time caseworker, who became full time in 2005. The needs kept growing and we now have 2 full time caseworkers. The Salvation Army offered help to 2,963 families and individuals involved in emergency situations in 2009, and it was over 6,000 in 2015. It is a miracle that we are able to do what we do with just 2 full time staff. We rely heavily on our volunteers.

The Vail Salvation Army is a self-sufficient service extension unit providing funding for its programs and activities without financial assistance of National or Intermountain Divisions of The Salvation Army.

Vail Valley Salvation Army Services:

- Emergency Transportation: We provide emergency transportation in the form of gasoline, bus tickets and minor auto repairs.

- Food Pantry: We provide food, diapers and household necessities such as toilet paper at our main Edwards food pantry year round. We partner with United Methodist Church in Eagle and the Vail Interfaith Chapel in Vail to stock pantries in both of these locations. We also can give out $10 or $15 gift cards with food to purchase perishables.

- Prescriptions: We assist with medications when there are no other resources in emergencies.

- Utilities: We help with emergency utility needs in the form of wood, propane, and by helping with bills and deposits.

- Rent: We help local individuals and families with emergency rent and deposits.

- Transient Help: In the form of food, short term lodging, emergency transportation and help with minor auto repair.

- Local Families: We provide help for local families who have experienced some type of an emergency and are in need of food, shelter, clothing, medication, household items (pots, pans, bedding and furniture), and minor repairs to the house or vehicle.

- Seniors: We help seniors with food, medications, utilities, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and we sponsor seniors for summer camp.

- Holiday Food Baskets: Our service unit provides holiday food baskets during the holidays ( more than 600 for Thanksgiving, 2014 and over 700 for Christmas, 2014

- Adopt-A-Family: We match donor with low-income families to provide food, clothing, household needs and "holiday gifts" (over 500 in 2014).

- Law Enforcement Programs: Our service unit provides bus tickets, gasoline vouchers and food vouchers to various law enforcement agencies throughout the valley to help people who contact them with emergency transportation needs. We also work with the various public safety agencies when they have clients with emergency needs due to domestic violence or other situations.

- Emergency shelters: We provide emergency shelters for road closures, and temporary housing for people in emergency situations. We are a partner in a community plan for pandemic preparedness.

- Canteen: We have a commercial kitchen on a 4-wheel drive vehicle that can provide 200 meals per hour to emergency responders. This has been called out several times since its arrival.

- Durable Medical Equipment Loan Program: We provide durable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, shower seats, toilet seat risers, walkers, crutches, etc. at no charge for people who require accommodations.

The Salvation Army strives to help low-income individuals and families reach self-sufficiency through our emergency assistance programs, as well as help link our clients with other resources throughout the Vail Valley. The Salvation Army food pantry, crisis line and emergency assistance programs operate year round. We went from serving 715 families in 2007 to 1068 families in 2008. We helped 90 families with rent and 66 families with utilities. For the Food Pantry alone, we served 249 families in 2007, and over 402 in 2008. In 2009 the numbers skyrocketed. There were 2963 cases (people who came to ask for help), and 1850 visits to the food pantry. Utilities were paid for 166 clients, rent for 189 clients, and we helped 279 clients with transportation needs.

2010 brought an explosion of cases. There were 4830 families requesting assistance, including over 5,074 coming to the food pantry. In 2011, 5,299 households came to us for assistance, and there were 5,145 visits to the food pantries. In 2015 there were 6,194 households who made visits to the food pantry. In fact, the past eight years, because of the economy, there are many middle class people coming to us, who have never previously needed help. Financial assistance is provided for families and individuals who are at risk of losing housing or utility power, dental, prescription and medical needs, transportation and basic living necessities. Every situation is unique and each case is handled by our community caseworkers.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Vail Valley Salvation Army - MERGED

Year Established

1983

Category

Human Services

Address

P.O. Box 2183, 322 E. Beaver Creek Blvd., Avon
Edwards, CO 81632

Service areas

Eagle County, CO, US

Other

970-748-0704

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