Supplies Dwindle for Salvation Army's Effort to Feed Solano County Families

ORGANIZATION ASKS FOR THE PUBLIC'S HELP TO 'FEED THE NEED'

The Salvation Army issued the following information this week regarding it's need for the public's help:

SUISUN CITY, Calif. - With recent reports of longer periods of unemployment after job losses and the unemployment rate still high, The Salvation Army serving Solano County is seeing heavy demand for food relief.  More and more, neighbors are telling The Salvation Army they’ve finally reached the end of their savings.  These people desperately need help.

"We don’t feed statistics, we feed people," said Captain Jonathan Harvey, Solano County Coordinator, explaining his assessment of increased need.  "In this community, we are seeing a whole new population coming to us for food.  Our regulars are now being joined by the formerly middle-class, a group that's just begun to embrace a nightmare they probably thought they'd never see; no money for food.  With foreclosures, gasoline and utility costs rising, not to mention the effects of recession, times are hard for many in our community."

Unfortunately, this phenomenon coincides with a seasonal low in Salvation Army food pantry supplies.  "We've used up our holiday donations feeding people through the holidays and beyond," Captain Harvey said. "We need a new influx of support."  

The Salvation Army is asking for donations of non-perishable food items.  There are certain “staples” provided in every box, including:

Soup                                Stew                        Jelly                        Pancake Mix        
Baby food                        Cereal                        Boxed Dinners        Spaghetti noodles        
Canned fruit                        Rice                        Spaghetti sauce        Canned Meat                
Beans                                Mac & Cheese        Peanut butter                Canned Veggies                

Individuals who would like to donate food for the food pantry can drop it off at Solano County’s Service Offices located in Fairfield and Vacaville at: 630 Orange Drive, Suite M in Vacaville >> map >> or 1216 Missouri Street in Fairfield. >> map >>

Monetary donations are always needed and can be sent to:
The Salvation Army of Fairfield        The Salvation Army of Vacaville:          Or, visit: www.GoSalArmy.org
P.O. Box 3157                                P.O. Box 5664                                to make a secure donation
Fairfield, CA 94533                        Vacaville, CA 95688                        

For more information, please contact:
Captain Jonathan Harvey-Solano County Coordinator
(707) 439-7881 Office   Jonathan.Harvey@usw.salvationarmy.org

"Spring Fling" Saturday Celebrates Kroc Center Progress

SUISUN CITY, Calif. - The Salvation Army serving Solano County invites the entire community to participate in Saturday's "Spring Fling" to celebrate the progress of the Suisun City Kroc Center.

This community barbecue with jumphouses, inflatables, games, giveaways, music and much more will run 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, May 21, 2011, at the facility adjacent to Hall Park on Pintail at East Wigeon Way. >> map >>

The Salvation Army believes this community center will play a vital role to enhance and improve the lives of individuals and families living throughout Solano County. This new community center will offer people ways to improve the health of their mind, body and soul, enabling individuals to grow and improve themselves in all aspects of life.

The Salvation Army serving Solano County is pleased to announce that construction of this multi-million dollar life enrichment center is about to begin, the first step in the creation and implementation of this important project.

When complete, this community center will boast a full aquatic center, community rooms, cardio and weight machines, banquet and party facilities, a rock climbing wall as well as multiple group fitness areas and a chapel and performing arts center.

“This event will be an opportunity for the community to come together and learn more about this center and what it will be offering to them,” said Captain Jonathan Harvey, Suisun City Corps Officer. “We will have lots of fun things for the entire family, including a bbq lunch, bounce house for the children, and most importantly, a chance for neighbors to get to know each other.”

For more information about the Kroc Center, go to www.suisunkroc.org

Reaching Out to Help Disaster Victims in Japan

As our thoughts and attention turns to Japan in this time of natural disaster, here is what the Salvation Army is doing to mobilize to help the earthquake and tsunami victims in that nation.

(Sacramento, CA)-Early Friday morning, a tsunami slammed Japan's eastern coast following a large earthquake that rocked the region. Early reports indicate extensive damage to property and significant loss of life.

Salvation Army personnel are assessing the damage and initiating recovery efforts.

The Salvation Army operates many programs and services in Japan. Japan’s Territorial Commander, Commissioner Makoto Yoshido, says the following:

“We are sending a team to Sendai tonight and will start providing the basic necessities as well as assessing the level of damage and what we can do from now on. We have opened our hall on the ground floor of our Territorial Headquarters building to those who could not go home. We were able to serve them with hot drinks and packed meals.”

The Salvation Army is asking for the public’s help to aid in the relief efforts in Japan. Those interested in helping are encouraged to give financial donations, which offer great flexibility and enable local disaster responders to purchase exactly what is needed as close to the disaster zone as possible.

There are four ways people can contribute money to The Salvation Army's 'Japan Earthquake / Tsunamis' disaster relief efforts:

- Text the words “Japan” or “Quake” to 80888 to make a $10 donation.
- By phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY -- designate gift for 'Japan Earthquake / Tsunamis'
- On-line at: www.salvationarmy.usawest.org -- designate gift for 'Japan Earthquake / Tsunamis'
- By mail: Send your check, marked 'Japan Earthquake / Tsunamis' to
The Salvation Army World Service Office
International Relief Fund
PO Box 630728
Baltimore, MD 21263-0728

At this time, The Salvation Army is not accepting in-kind donations from the general public for disaster relief operations in Japan as it is extremely difficult and expensive to ship in-kind donations overseas from the United States to Japan. It is more efficient for disaster relief agencies to purchase needed resources locally and for immediate distribution with the disaster area. The best way for U.S. donors to help Japanese disaster survivors is to make a cash donation.

Savation Army to Invest $44 Million in Suisun City Center

Endowment to Build Third California Kroc Center in Suisun City

SUISUN CITY, CALIF - The Salvation Army is pleased to announce its commitment to construct a $22 million Joan Kroc Community Center in Suisun City, CA. The money for the improvements to a facility already purchased in the city was given by the organization’s corporate headquarters in Long Beach, CA through a bequest left to The Salvation Army by Joan Kroc, wife of Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s corporation. When Joan Kroc died in 2003, she left The Salvation Army the largest charitable gift in history to the tune of $1.8 billion. Of that money, $450 million was allotted for the Western Territory of the United States. This community center in Suisun City will be the seventh in the Western United States. >> More about Kroc Centers >>

"The city of Suisun admires the leadership of The Salvation Army in pushing such a creative project forward in our community. This is an unprecedented program in our city and we are honored to house such a dynamic community center,” said Suisun City Mayor Pete Sanchez. “The city of Suisun pledges to support and help this profitable adventure in any way we can. The facility being built by The Salvation Army will improve our city in remarkable ways."

In whole, this community center is a $44 million commitment. $22 million is the budget for construction with a matching $22 million for endowment. The $22 million endowment will offset some of the operational costs of the facility.

"The Del Oro Division of The Salvation Army is humbled and excited to be rewarded this grant of such generous proportions. It is our goal to fully execute, with great care and certainty, a state of the art community center mirroring the vision of Joan Kroc,” said Major Douglas F. Riley, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army. “This center will be a great asset to the Solano County community and will work to enrich the lives of men, women and children throughout the area. We are blessed to have been rewarded such a wonderful opportunity."

>> Read More >>

Salvation Army Community Center Study Released for Comments

SUISUN CITY - The Suisun City Community Development Department released a draft Mitigated Negative Declaration on the proposed Salvation Army Corps Community Center project for public comment.

The Salvation Army proposes to renovate and expand the shuttered community center at 586 East Wigeon Way for continued use as a community center. The project will involve expansion of the building to provide additional services, rezoning from Single-Family Residential to City Park District and a lot line adjustment.

An initial study of the proposal indicated that with mitigations the project would have no significant adverse environmental impacts. As a result, a draft Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared and released for public comment until Dec. 14, 2010.

>> Read more about the project or review the documents >>

Your Preview of the Fall Discovery Newsletter

SUISUN CITY - While the paper copies of the Fall issue of Discovery newsletter make their way to every postal patron in town, those of you who follow us electronically get the sneak peak.

Here are the headlines, with links to individual articles:

• The Salvation Army reveals its $12 million community center vision
• Proposed Wal-Mart Center has cleared all legal hurdles two years after getting unanimous City Council approval
• Suisun City is using federal grants to stabilize local neighborhoods and create new home ownership opportunities for families
• A $685,000 grant will help improve the Suisun City Senior Center
• Suisun City Police and Fire Departments reach out to help families this holiday season, and you can help
• All the Christmas at the Waterfront festivities, which are bigger and better than ever! (Including Snow Day!)
  
• Keep F.O.G. out of your sewer pipes this holiday season
• Mark your calendar for the Dec. 14 General Plan workshop

You can also flip through an electronic version of the entire newsletter by clicking here.

We hope you enjoy the update, and have a very safe and happy holiday season!

Find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Suisun City or on Twitter at Twitter.com/SuisunCity

Salvation Army to Reveal New Vision for Suisun City Center

SUISUN CITY, California - The Salvation Army and Suisun City Council invites the entire community to attend a very special unveiling on Tuesday night of all new plans for the Salvation Army Corps Community Center.

"The old is being wiped away with an expanded and improved plan that is virtually incomprehensible," City Manager Suzanne Bragdon said. "We still have to pinch ourselves to be sure we're not dreaming!"

The Salvation Army will present its plans to the City Council at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 19) at the start of the regular City Council meeting in City Hall, 701 Civic Center Blvd, Suisun City

A brief reception will follow during which residents can meet Capt. Jonathan Harvey, his wife Vicky and other members of The Salvation Army team, and see the new renderings up close.

It's been just about a year since the Suisun City Council sold the shuttered community center on East Wigeon Way to The Salvation Army. Initial demolition and remodeling work was put on hold when a new source of funding became available that nearly doubled the budget for the Suisun City center.

From the start, Suisun City leaders and The Salvation Army shared a commitment to provide the community with the very best center and do it right. The new plans are the next step in that process.

For more information on the Suisun City Corps Community Center, go to www.Facebook.com/SuisunSalArmy or call 707-332-3209.

Salvation Army to Host Community Meetings for New Suisun City Center

By Ian Thompson | DAILY REPUBLIC

SUISUN CITY - Suisun City residents will soon get their chance to hear more about what the Salvation Army has planned for its new center that opens this summer and talk about what they want to see it offer.

The Salvation Army plans two community meetings, on April 27 and May 6, at the Suisun City Library at 601 Pintail Drive. Both meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. >>map>>

Meetings will start with a short presentation by Salvation Army representatives followed by a question-and-answer period, according to Doug Daut, director of programs for The Corps, Salvation Army, Suisun City.

'The Salvation Army to a lot of people is a thrift store and a kettle, but it's a lot more,' Daut said.

While the driving force of the center is the church, Daut said the center on Wigeon Way will have a wide array of youth programs a well-run health and fitness center.

'We will get more specific at the May meeting for details about the programs and we want to get people's input,' Daut said. 'We want to hear from them.'

Reconstruction of the center is still on schedule and is expected to be done by the end of May. The center's opening is tentatively slated for mid-June, Daut said.

The center's Web site is still under construction. Applications for part-time employment are still available at the trailer next to the center.

For more information, call the Center's temporary number at 707-720-5376.

City Council Sells Community/Aquatic Center

THE SALVATION ARMY WILL REFURBISH CENTER & REOPEN IT TO THE COMMUNITY

SUISUN CITY — The Suisun City Council unanimously approved on Tuesday the sale of the shuttered Community/Aquatic Center next to Hall Park to The Salvation Army.

The vote concluded a 16-month search for a new operator for the community facility following the sudden closure of the facility by the YMCA.

The Salvation Army will develop a timeline for the complete renovation of the facility before reopening it with a full range of community and recreational services for everyone from seniors to youth, including fitness and aquatics programs.
>> READ MORE >>

Sale of Shuttered Community/Aquatic Center Goes to City Council

THE SALVATION ARMY TO PURCHASE, REOPEN CENTER TO THE COMMUNITY

SUISUN CITY — The Suisun City Council will consider on Tuesday selling the shuttered Community/Aquatic Center next to Hall Park to The Salvation Army, which is committed to upgrading and reopening the facility for a broad range of community services.

Once the agreement is approved by both parties, The Salvation Army will lay out its timeline for renovations and a Grand Re-Opening. The Salvation Army Board of Directors (Western Territory) approved the agreement on Monday, October 12, 2009.

“It is absolutely tremendous to return this essential asset to the Suisun City community, particularly during a time when community services are needed more than ever,” said City Manager Suzanne Bragdon. “The Salvation Army brings the experience, focus, dedication and resources to make this an extremely successful operation.”

The City Council will consider selling the entire facility, including the gymnasium, offices, community rooms, workout space, locker rooms and swimming pool, to The Salvation Army for $3 million. Because improvements to the facility would be funded through donations, The Salvation Army requested to purchase the facility rather than operate the City-owned facility.

Approval of this project by The Salvation Army is a testament to the opportunity this Community/Aquatic Center presents.

“In spite of current economic challenges, The Salvation Army believes that the residents of Suisun City and its surrounding communities are sufficiently committed to the health, fitness and future of their families,” said Major Douglas F. Riley, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army’s Del Oro Division. “We are looking forward to working together and making this a positive outcome for all.”

>>READ MORE>>

Suisun City Planning Commission Approves Salvation Army Permit

PERMIT TO HELP FINALIZE SALE OF PROPERTY, REOPENING OF COMMUNITY CENTER

SUISUN CITY — The Suisun City Planning Commission unanimously approved on Wednesday a conditional use permit and general plan finding necessary to re-open the shuttered former YMCA community center for family and youth activities.

After purchasing and renovating the property, The Salvation Army plans to operate

• Family fitness and recreation center activities seven days a week, including fitness machines, aerobics classes, gymnasium sports, swim lessons and pool operations.
• After-school youth tutoring and supervised recreation activities
• Social assistance for local families, such as emergency pre-packaged food, applications for utility asistance programs, information and referrals to other agencies, and personal counseling.
• Summer and Christmas seasonal activities
• Disaster response training and services as needed following a disaster
• Various community meetings and events, such as weddings, anniversaries, etc.
  

The Planning Commission action helps The Salvation Army finalize negotiations to purchase the facility formerly operated by the North Bay YMCA. The Suisun City Council may be asked to consider a sales proposal later this month. >>READ MORE>>

Planning Commission to Consider Salvation Army Application

PERMIT TO HELP FINALIZE SALE OF PROPERTY, REOPENING OF COMMUNITY CENTER

SUISUN CITY — The Suisun City Planning Commission will consider on Wednesday a conditional use permit and general plan finding necessary to re-open the center for family and youth activities.

After purchasing and renovating the property, The Salvation Army plans to operate

• Family fitness and recreation center activities seven days a week, including fitness machines, aerobics classes, gymnaseum sports, swim lessons and pool operations.
• After-school youth tutoring and supervised recreation activities.
• Social assistance for local families, such as emergency pre-packaged food, applications for utility asistance programs, information and referrals to other agencies, and personal counseling.
• Summer and Christmas seasonal activities.
• Disaster response training and services as needed following a disaster.
• Various community meetings and events, such as weddings, anniversaries, etc.
  

The Planning Commission review and action will help The Salvation Army finalize negotiations to purchase the facility formerly operated by the North Bay YMCA. The Suisun City Council may be asked to consider a sales proposal later this month.

The Planning Commission meeting will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday August 5 in the City Hall Council Chamber. >>READ MORE>>

Go Inside the Salvation Army Community Centers

SPARKLING SF CENTER SHOWS POTENTIAL FOR SUISUN CITY

Everyone knows The Salvation Army. In the least, we recognize the annual Christmas kettle drive and know they do a lot of great work all over the country and the world.

But their work in recreation community centers wasn't really on a lot of people's radars locally until The Salvation Army showed interest in reopening the local recreation center shuttered by the YMCA.

The review committees paid a visit to The Salvation Army's San Francisco center as part of the research done into selecting a new partner to operate our local center. Committee members were very impressed with what they saw, especially considering the SF Center is located in the Tenderloin District.

The San Francisco center is one of The Salvation Army's Kroc Centers, a network of community centers created through a massive $1.5 billion endowment from Ray and Joan Kroc, the founders of McDonald's. The Kroc Centers are truly impressive; definitely Cadillac examples of what recreation-based community centers can be when they are built from the ground-up on large tracts of land. The Salvation Army runs these centers at a very high service standard.

That's the important part for any future relationship here in Suisun City. The center on Pintail Avenue at East Wigeon likely will never be a full-blown Kroc Center. But that same approach, commitment and outlook would be applied here in Suisun City on a somewhat smaller scale.

Daily Republic reporter Ian Thompson and photographer Brad Zweerink toured the San Francisco center this week and filed their report in Thursday's paper. >>Check out the Daily Republic web site for a peak inside the center.>>

The Salvation Army is Top Contender to Re-open Center

OFFICIALS LAUNCH DISCUSSION ON OPERATIONS AGREEMENT

The Suisun City Council has identified The Salvation Army as its top pick for further discussions regarding taking over the community center shuttered by the North Bay YMCA. This step allows both parties to focus on bringing back youth and family programs that are vital to supporting and strengthening the Suisun City community.

The City Council Ad Hoc Committee and Citizens’ Advisory Committee assigned to review proposals from seven organizations wanting to re-open the facility, unanimously selected The Salvation Army as the top choice based upon its commitment to families, communities and the high level of service evident in more than 360 recreation centers it operates across the nation.

In making this determination, the top priorities of the City Council Ad Hoc and Citizens’ Advisory committees were to ensure:

• Commitment to a safe place for children when schools are closed;
• Commitment to partner with other community groups for facility usage;
• Maximum access to programs regardless of ability to pay;
• Pool operations;
• Basketball court usage; and
• Fitness center, including machines and free weights.

Representatives of the City and The Salvation Army have begun discussions on a financial arrangement to take on operations of this facility that meets the fiscal and service needs of both parties. Program and facility assessments are also underway. Timelines for reopening the facility are expected to become clearer after the first of the year.

After a rigorous series of interviews and site visits, The Salvation Army rose to the top of the list because of the quality of its operations, its desire to provide services not otherwise available in the community, and its commitment to becoming part of the community. Specifically, the committees were impressed with The Salvation Army’s commitment to provide a safe and fun environment for children, its flexibility in programming and membership rates, its wide base of financial support, and its worldwide reputation for enduring high-quality programs. The Salvation Army prides itself on providing support services to families to ensure their success economically and as a basic building block of society.

“The Salvation Army is much more than ‘bell ringers’ during the Christmas holidays and service providers to the homeless and other people in crisis,” said City Manager Suzanne Bragdon.

“Their services are far-reaching and include the operation of more than 360 community recreation facilities similar to what is being proposed in Suisun City. They will be a welcome addition to our community.”

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is a faith-based Christian organization that has actively supported those in need without discrimination in the United States for 128 years. Nearly 29 million American receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a broad array of social services ranging from providing food for the hungry to relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter for the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 82 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide.

For more information about The Salvation Army, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org.