The Salvation Army Offers Hope

The Salvation Army has battled hunger and needs in New Haven since it first opened its doors in 1885. From its current home on 450 George Street and other outposts in Greater New Haven, the charitable organization offers a food pantry, free diapers, and other services to help financially struggling individuals and families.

"We serve a lot of working poor families who aren't destitute but need a little support to make ends meet. While we do get people who are completely on social services, most are working and need a supplement," says Salvation Army Captain Charles Adams, the Citadel Officer of the New Haven Corps location, serving the city and surrounding towns.

The Salvation Army was founded in London, England in 1865 by a Methodist preacher and wife. Trying to preach the gospel to people who lived on the streets and in poverty, they recognized that their audience was more willing to listen when it wasn't hungry. They adopted a quasi-military structure that expanded into an international movement that is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church.

The New Haven Salvation Army food pantry, which is supplied through a partnership with the Connecticut Food Bank, serves 150-200 families. It also partners with the Diaper Bank to distribute free diapers to 200 children. The New Haven chapter also offers Pathways of Hope, which has a case manager work with families to build up their strengths and assets to help them rise out of poverty.

In addition to New Haven, The Salvation Army has corps locations in Ansonia, Milford, and Wallingford.

The Salvation Army is always looking for volunteers to stock the food pantry and accepts both monetary and food donations, Adams says.

For more information about the New Haven Salvation Army, visit its profile on giveGreater.org.

Did you know?

Fourteen percent of the Greater New Haven population has experienced food insecurity in the past year, which means not having enough money to buy food needed for a nutritious diet. Among African American and Latino residents in Greater New Haven, the food insecurity rate is 25 percent. Source: DataHaven Community Wellbeing Survey 2015.

This story is part of the Inspiration Monday story series produced by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.