Halvorson and Burns Join Salvation Army Board

Eric Halvorson (WISH-TV8) and Karen Burns (Indianapolis Zoological Society) were both installed as Advisory Board members this week.

An Indiana native, Eric joined WISH-TV in January of 1983. He became the lead anchor of the number one rated noon show in 1986. He also anchored 24-Hour News 8′s 5 o’clock newscast. In December 2004, Eric joined Debby Knox at the anchor desk for WISH-TV’S 24-Hour News 8 at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Promoted to Senior Vice President in 2007, Karen is directly responsible for $10.7 million in annual operating revenue.  She leads the external relations division with responsibilites for Creative Services, Marketing, Institutional Advancement, Membership, and Communications.

Each member of The Salvation Army’s Advisory Board brings a unique set of talents, experiences, and connections to the community which are valuable to The Salvation Army as it strives to serve the central Indiana community in an effective and efficient manner.

The Salvation Army established the local “Advisory Board System” in 1920. It was designed to enlist local professionals, business and civic leaders to provide support to the local unit of The Salvation Army. The Advisory Board is charged with the responsibility of advising and assisting The Salvation Army in all its activities in the Indianapolis community.

Harbor Light Center – A Reflection On Success

Addiction Recovery Month is an annual celebration for those who have gone through treatment for drug and/or alcohol addictions.  Each September, facilities across the nation share their success stories, encourage and applaud the contributions of their fellow treatment providers as well as promote the message that recovery from drug and alcohol addictions is possible.

The Salvation Army Harbor Light Center, located at 2400 N. Tibbs Ave. in Indianapolis, is one of those providers. The center has both residential and outpatient treatment, serving men and women battling substance abuse, chemical dependency, homelessness and poverty.  Harbor Light offers a full continuum of Addiction Treatment Services and a Transitional Housing Program for adults 18 and over, including a broad spectrum of professional counseling, with psychological, vocational and spiritual guidance.

In the past year, Harbor Light’s Drug Court program has doubled in size and boasts an 85% success rate, well above the national averages. Detoxification has increased by 350 clients over the previous year bringing 2010 total admissions to 1,710.  The gambling program, started in 2008 has also increased drastically and The Salvation Army is one of only 17 providers in the state.

With waiting lists and every program growing in participants, Clinical Director David R. Thompson, M.Div., CADS, CCDP says of his staff, “Overall, our people are extremely busy. We continue to do all we can within the restraints of budget cuts by the state and with the loss of grants due to the volatile market. ”

The Salvation Army Harbor Light Corps Vision Statement reads: “We believe this is a ministry of “redeeming the time”, for the whole person, as we meet their needs through our different outreach programs. We are growing a spiritual nurturing place of worship, to feed the souls of those in recovery, where they can find healing in Jesus Christ.”  The staff does this not only through clinical services but also by holding Sunday morning worship services and Bible studies.

The center is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  You can contact them at:

The Salvation Army Harbor Light Center

2400 N. Tibbs Ave.

Indianapolis, IN  46222

Phone: (317)972-1450

Fax: (317)972-4114

-Deborah Simon, Social Media Manager

Katrina – 5 Years Later

Salvation Army USA, August 24, 2010 -

At the 5 year anniversary of Katrina, the nation is reflecting this week on tragedy that befell the Gulf Coast so many years ago and how the area has pressed on since. As an integral part of the community, The Salvation Army was there before the storm, and we were there after working to provide support and help rebuild.

The Salvation Army’s Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi Division posted an album on their Facebook page that looks back at their efforts to help those in need during the immediate aftermath. From serving food to providing medical support, The Salvation Army was a shining light during a very dark time.

Five years later, we are still dedicated to serving and restoring these communities.

As a part of continuing recovery efforts, The Salvation Army is investing in projects, communities and individual lives in order to help the area become even stronger than before. Five New Orleans neighborhoods are being revived with affordable, green housing thanks to EnviRenew, a project of The Salvation Army New Orleans. Emerge is encouraging youth with positive incentives to learn. A new Salvation Army Kroc Community Center is under construction that will provide the residents of Biloxi, Mississippi with educational opportunities, exercise facilities, services for the community, and many other resources. And these are just a few of numerous ways The Salvation Army is helping the Gulf achieve a brighter future.

If you’d like to view the latest fact sheet on Hurricane Katrina, which contains an overview, statistics and information on The Salvation Army’s long-term recovery efforts, just click here.

Indy homeless students up by 26%, Salvation Army offers help

Today’s Indy Star reports that IPS has seen a 26% increase in the homeless students. The article is pretty sobering – Indiana is tied for 27th in the nation for homeless enrollment – nearly 10,000 students.

Our state has certainly felt the brunt of the economic downturn. And the trend continues in 2010 as unemployment hovers in the 10 percent range. About 43 percent of homeless schoolchildren in IPS are in kindergarten through third grade! These kids have difficulties concentrating, not knowing where they’ll sleep or where dinner will come from. In fact, these students are suspended from school at a rate of about twice the state average!

But thanks to our supporters, The Salvation Army’s Women’s and Children’s Shelter* can offer these kids some stability. Kids who stay in our shelter can count on healthy meals, warm beds and even homework help from our partners at Indy School on Wheels. The shelter isn’t a permanent solution – our counselors work with moms to get help with life skills, school or job placement and all the other resources they will need to break the cycle of joblessness, domestic violence and homelessness.

You can help us continue to provide these services to our littlest neighbors in need through the Homelessness Bites campaign. Find out how to get and fill a Bite Back box, donate online, sign up for our mobile VIP list or mark your calendar now for Apple Fest this October. For 1,500 kids in Indianapolis, homelessness bites. Bite back!

*nearly 1,100 women & children have been cared for in our shelter in 2010. Of the 204 who came to us in June, 76 were kids.

Haiti: 6 months later

The Salvation Army will complete the construction of 600 housing shelters through the Transitional Shelter Program in Jacmel, Haiti this week, to assist in relocating earthquake-displaced Haitians back to their home communities. Over the past six months The Salvation Army has transitioned from providing for immediate needs, including temporary shelter, food, water and medical attention to providing long-term recovery services to help return survivors to a level of normalcy in their lives. The long-term rebuilding process has employed more than 400 Haitians as carpenters and construction crew-members to assist in reconstruction efforts.

 “The level of care and steps taken to rebuild Haiti has been astonishing, with this transitional housing project highlighting the significant strides everyone has made over the past six months,” said Lt. Colonel Dan Starrett Executive Director of The Salvation Army World Service Office. “Housing shelters have been built in some of the most heavily impacted areas in Haiti, including Jacmel, Bainet, Lilette and Bellami. The Salvation Army has had a major presence in Haiti since the 1950s and we’ll continue to provide earthquake relief services for as long as the need is there.”

Haitian officials and residents worked closely with The Salvation Army to plan and manage the transitional housing shelters project which allowed for a quick design and building process. Through both volunteerism and temporary employment by The Salvation Army, residents of Haiti have been directly involved in the reconstruction of their communities. The Salvation Army provided technical specialists as needed for the project and Haitian teams were trained by The Salvation Army’s transitional housing team. Others were hired to clear land for the construction of the homes. In all, more than 400 Haitians, comprising at least 45 construction teams, were trained to supervise and build 600 homes.

“For the safety and well-being of the thousands of Haitians who have been displaced, it was critical that we constructed these homes as quickly and strongly as possible with the hurricane season here,” said Lt. Colonel Starrett. “The ultimate goal of our emergency service in Haiti is to provide the resources for the community to return to self sufficiency at a level that exceeds conditions before the earthquake. These homes are the first steps of many in that direction.”

Following the construction of the 600 shelters in Jacmel, which began on June 5, The Salvation Army will work with government officials in Haiti to plan the second phase of development for an additional 500 homes in Jacmel and another 1,000-1,500 homes in Petit-Goâve, which felt a strong 5.9 magnitude aftershock on January 20. The quake’s epicenter was almost directly under Petit-Goâve, severely damaging the city. Each home will take one day to complete, with each costing approximately $1,800. Like in Jacmel, the homes will be built on existing home sites. Individuals and families who have lost their homes due to the earthquake must own the property on which their new home will be built in order to obtain a shelter. Families are helped first, followed by single women with children and other vulnerable populations.Locally, The Indiana Salvation Army sent down some of the first response teams following the January earthquake.  The support of Hoosiers for The Salvation Army’s relief efforts was overwhelming.  “We are proud of Central Indiana’s response to the crisis in Haiti.  Hoosiers donated nearly $400,000 to Haitian disaster relief and today’s news shows that their investment has produced tangible results. The effort continues both in Haiti and in Indianapolis to rebuild communities and restore lives. We want to express our thanks to all Hoosiers who have contributed and continue to support our mission,” said Jeff Stanger, Development Director for the Indiana Salvation Army. The Salvation Army set up a Haiti relief fund and is accepting monetary donations. Donors may contribute $10 via their phone bill by text messaging the word “HAITI” to 52000, and confirming the donation with the word, “Yes.”  Donors can also give via www.salvationarmyusa.org, 1-800-SAL-ARMY and through the mail at: The Salvation Army World Service Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728 with designation “Haiti Earthquake.” To date, more than $20.5 million has been donated to The Salvation Army to assist in the development of the housing units, provide 5.4 million meals, as well as other immediate and long-term recovery services in Haiti. Through the shelter campaign, The Salvation Army will continue will provide over 4400 shelters in the next 6-12 months in Jacmel, Petit-Goâve and Port -au-Prince.Prior to the earthquake, The Salvation Army in Haiti operated schools, clinics, a hospital, feeding programs, children’s homes and church-related activities through some 60 Corps community centers across the country.  One Salvation Army facility in Port-au-Prince includes a home for more than 50 children; a school with a daily attendance of 1,500 children; a medical clinic caring for 150-200 people daily; and a church that on any typical Sunday welcomes nearly 1,000 people.Since January 12, The Salvation Army, along with the United Nations, local governments, and nongovernmental organizations has cared for the 20,000 individuals who have been displaced from their homes, living at a soccer field adjacent to a Salvation Army facility in Port-au-Prince. To establish a safe environment, a Camp Security force has been formed made up of 45 Haitian members from the camp itself. The team has been trained in security techniques by The Salvation Army and the United Nations. Medical care and nutritional services are also being provided to meet the needs of all individuals at the camp; including water purification units that supply 20,000 – 30,000 gallons of purified water or 4.2 million gallons of water daily.

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