New programs that the Salvation Army was hoping to launch later in 2018 are going to have to be re-worked. Their fundraising efforts in late 2017 fell about $48,000 short of their $500,000 goal. They are still looking at ways to improve their services and to provide the food required. Captain Peter Kim says they were just in the early planning stages but that gap is forcing them to re-think a planned addictions program.
“It’s more of a guidance counselling type program. We’re trying to make sure that we have enough spots available for someone who we had planned to hire for that.”
The program was expected to launch when the Salvation Army’s new fiscal year begins in April. They are still hoping to make the program viable but it would be on a smaller scale than what they had originally been looking at. The program is expected to operate out of the Salvation Army building downtown. Cpt. Kim says they are always looking for support from the community.
“We accept donations through out the entire year. It’s just our campaign during Christmas is our big push. We’ll more than welcome donations through out the year. They can be dropped off at our centre.”
Over the holidays the Salvation Army distributed more than 4,000 hampers to families around Grande Prairie.
