Posted on Sun, May. 11, 2008

This week we celebrate the 55th annual National Salvation Army Week. The week was first declared by President Dwight D. Eisenhower as a time to honor the organization’s work on behalf of the poor.

For those not aware of the Salvation Army’s history, it was founded in London in 1865 by former Methodist minister William Booth.

Booth abandoned the conventional concept of a church and a pulpit, instead taking his message of spiritual salvation directly to the people — in particular the homeless, the hungry and the destitute.

More than 28 million Americans and 300 million people around the world receive assistance from the Salvation Army annually. The broad array of social services include providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children.

In Kansas City, the Salvation Army has been helping those in need within our community since 1885. In the last year alone, we served more than 425,000 meals, provided more than 132,000 nights of lodging and delivered emergency assistance to 92,000 individuals.

But we didn’t do it alone. As always, I am amazed at the generous and supportive nature of the Kansas City community.

Last year, more than 18,000 individuals shared their valuable time to volunteer for our organization, and many more donated money to help their neighbors in need.

Due to the difficult economic conditions, we have experienced an increased demand for social services throughout the greater Kansas City area.

The slowing economy often hurts those on the lower rungs of the economic ladder first. With your continued help, we pledge to continue doing the most good for the most people in need in Kansas City.

Lt. Col. Ted Dalberg is the divisional commander of the Salvation Army for Kansas and Western Missouri. He lives in Kansas City.