Requests for assistance increase as unemployment benefits run out

The Salvation Army is seeing a dramatic spike in request for assistance as unemployment benefits for many end this week.  At The Salvation Army’s Center for Hope in Greenwood, workers went through the July assistance funds in one day in order to meet a 70% increase in request for assistance.  Almost all of the 24 households they served were seeking help for the very first time.

See the story on WISH-TV8

Last night, WISH-TV8 in Indianapolis aired a story about the increase in request for assistance at The Salvation Army in Greenwood.  But Salvation Army service centers throughout the state are seeing similar increases and are also running out of resources in order to meet the increased need.

You can help.  Your generosity can help put food on a table for a family who can’t do so for themselves for the very first time.  To find a Salvation Army near you, visit our Locations Page.  You can contact us and make food or financial donation.  You can also make an Online Donation.  Your donation will be put to use right away to help those in need.

If you would like to become a volunteer for The Salvation Army, contact Elizabeth Wilhelm at 317-224-1010.

Hoosiers help raise $352,000 for newly unemployed

Hoosiers all over the state (individuals and businesses) opened their hearts and wallets to help their neighbors in need. And, although the grant application period for matching funds has now ended, you can always make a donation to The Salvation Army online, anytime here.

Our partners donated generously across the state. Here’s how it broke down by county:

• Anderson / Madison County: $6,000
• Kokomo / Howard County: $9,000
• Marion / Grant County: $10,581
• Muncie / Delaware County: $9,200
• Richmond / Warren County: $500
• Terre Haute / Vigo County: $9,000
• Indianapolis / Marion County: $7,340
• Statewide other: $77,970

Give help, hope to newly unemployed

The ability to provide for our families is not something we should take for granted. Many of our fellow Hoosiers are struggling to make ends meet in light of rising job loss in our state. So much so that we’re expecting an additional 15% increase in requests for assistance this year due to unemployment alone.

So to continue “doing the most good”, The Salvation Army’s Midwest Headquarters has reallocated some endowment funds to make $3.45 million available in what we’re calling Hoosier Help for Hardship grants. Through this program, your neighbors in need will be able to get assistance with utilities, housing expenses and groceries.

But, in order to receive one of these $18,000 grants, each community must raise a $9,000 match of funds for a total of $27,000 of available assistance. And here’s how you can help.If just 900 of us could give at least $10 each, we’ll make our $9,000 match goal! Read more