Coats for Kids

It’s hard to believe that we are almost 2 weeks away from our 23nd Annual Coats for Kids campaign!   As winter approaches The Salvation Army, WTHR Channel 13 and Tuchman Cleaners are again asking generous people from the city of Indianapolis to donate new or gently used coats, hats, gloves and scarves to help us with our campaign. Donations can be dropped off at any Tuchman Cleaners where they will be cleaned before distribution day on October 10.

This year interested patrons can also donate money online. All funds collected will be used to purchase new coats for children in need this winter.

Click here to buy a coat for a kid.

Are you wondering how you can get one of our new or gently used coats for your child this October?  Simply come to the Northwest Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds between 8:00am and 4:00pm on October 10th.  The event is free and open to the public, but remember that your child must be present to receive a coat!

Questions?  Contact Julia Sipes at (317) 224 1067 or julia_sipes@usc.salvationarmy.org.

Shelter Receives $467,070

The Salvation Army’s Shelter for Women and Children received a major gift yesterday as the city of Indianapolis and the United Way of Central Indiana distributed $5.8 million to 20 local agencies. The shelter will receive $467,070 to address the ever growing need and request for assistance.

The funding was issued through the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program under Title XII of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Theses funds will help an estimated 2,044 households, according to the United Way.

“These 20 grantees will help give more of our neighbors one of the most basic huan needs: a safe place to call home,” said Mayor Greg Ballard. “We are excited to be able to award these funds to such deserving institutions who will work to provide a better quality of life for our neighbors in need.”

The 126 beds at The Salvation Army’s Shelter for Women and Children are filled every night and need is growing. Request for assistance is up over 14% over this same time period last year. Want to help? Click donate at the top of the page to see how!

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Do you have  a facebook account?  Click here to become a fan of The Salvation Army Women and Children’s Shelter on facebook!

August Update!

August has been a busy month for us here at the Women and Children’s Shelter.  We served 210 women and children, which is the highest number that we have seen this year.  Of these individuals, 174 were seeking shelter due to domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, isolation and forced prostitution.  We served 6,519 meals!

In addition to seeing an increase in our clients we have also seen an increase in volunteer activity!  So many doors have been opened to the shelter this summer and we are thankful for all of the people who came in and contributed to the shelter.  Carmel Lutheran Church came in and revamped the first floor of our Domestic Violence Unit with new, bright colors, curtains and decorations.  Second Presbyterian Church from Memphis, Tennesee brought a group of students to Indianapolis for their Vacation Bible School and painted a sunflower mural in our child care, made welcome bags for the children coming into shelter, cleaned and helped serve meals in our kitchen!  Calvary Temple’s Children’s Choir came in to perform for the ladies and stayed after the performance to pray with families who requested prayer.  These groups were in addition to our regular volunteers!

Last, staff and volunteers got a chance to hang out at the Indiana State Fair for a day and work at the Jaycees Cornbooth.  We soaked, grilled, shucked, buttered and sold corn as a fundraiser for the shelter.  Oh, and we of course had fun too