MISSION IN THE MIDLANDS

The Salvation Army of the Midlands:

MISSION STATEMENT

The Salvation Army, an International Movement, is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church. Its Message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to

meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Volunteer Profile: Kayla Johnson

Kayla worked with the Sunbeams youth program at

The Salvation Army from August 2013 to May 2014.

She is a University of South Carolina student who

helped young girls at the Army earn badges, learn

skills, and form friendships. She helped maintain

control of the classroom and generated ideas for

activities.

Why did you choose to volunteer? I want to make

a difference in the world and I believe the best way

to do that is through the children.

Is there anything else you would like to share

about your time as a volunteer? I hope I was able

to impact a child’s life the way each and every one

of them so strongly impacted mine. I’m so thankful

for the opportunity I was given to work with the

children and the Midlands Army staff and I’m be-

yond excited for what is to come.

Volunteer Profile: Kory Middleton

Kory helped to lead the Explorers and Rangers youth programs from

August 2013 to May 2014 with the goal of progressing their knowl-

edge of the world around them as well as their understanding of

the Word of God and helping them in their pursuit of Christ.

How do you think the work you did as a volunteer impacted the

people you served? Each Thursday myself and my co-workers

were able to work together in a safe environment which I hope was

able to offer an escape for the kids of the community. In this, I

hope I was able to impact the lives of the kids we taught as well as

make a lasting impression so that they will be back next year for

more fun, fellowship, and learning.

Do you have a favorite memory from your volunteer work? My

favorite memory while volunteering in Columbia was going to the

University of South Carolina women’s basketball game. Having the

opportunity to take kids out to something very few had experi-

enced before was a very touching event.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about volun-

teering at The Salvation Army? I would say do whatever it takes to

be there. It is truly a life changing experience […]. Just knowing you

have the opportunity to make an impact on a kid’s life is a feeling

that there are no words to describe.

MISSION STATEMENT

MISSION IN THE MIDLANDS

The Salvation Army of the Midlands:

MISSION STATEMENT

The Salvation Army, an International Movement, is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church. Its Message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to

meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Volunteer Profile: Kayla Johnson

Kayla worked with the Sunbeams youth program at

The Salvation Army from August 2013 to May 2014.

She is a University of South Carolina student who

helped young girls at the Army earn badges, learn

skills, and form friendships. She helped maintain

control of the classroom and generated ideas for

activities.

Why did you choose to volunteer? I want to make

a difference in the world and I believe the best way

to do that is through the children.

Is there anything else you would like to share

about your time as a volunteer? I hope I was able

to impact a child’s life the way each and every one

of them so strongly impacted mine. I’m so thankful

for the opportunity I was given to work with the

children and the Midlands Army staff and I’m be-

yond excited for what is to come.

Volunteer Profile: Kory Middleton

Kory helped to lead the Explorers and Rangers youth programs from

August 2013 to May 2014 with the goal of progressing their knowl-

edge of the world around them as well as their understanding of

the Word of God and helping them in their pursuit of Christ.

How do you think the work you did as a volunteer impacted the

people you served? Each Thursday myself and my co-workers

were able to work together in a safe environment which I hope was

able to offer an escape for the kids of the community. In this, I

hope I was able to impact the lives of the kids we taught as well as

make a lasting impression so that they will be back next year for

more fun, fellowship, and learning.

Do you have a favorite memory from your volunteer work? My

favorite memory while volunteering in Columbia was going to the

University of South Carolina women’s basketball game. Having the

opportunity to take kids out to something very few had experi-

enced before was a very touching event.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about volun-

teering at The Salvation Army? I would say do whatever it takes to

be there. It is truly a life changing experience […]. Just knowing you

have the opportunity to make an impact on a kid’s life is a feeling

that there are no words to describe.

Kory helped to lead the Explorers and Rangers youth programs from

August 2013 to May 2014 with the goal of progressing their knowledge

of the world around them as well as their understanding of the Word

of God and helping them in their pursuit of Christ.

Caring Soles: Innersole, Richland One, Richland Two, and Lexing-

ton Two School Systems and The Salvation Army Provide New

Sneakers to Local Homeless Children

Astonished looks were on plenty of faces at The Salvation Army on

a recent afternoon as University of South Carolina Head Women’s

Basketball Coach Dawn Staley and Innersole, the nonprofit she

founded, distributed sneakers to local homeless families.

“Caring Soles” – as folks from the Army and Innersole have called

the program – aimed to assist local children in need of well-fitting

sneakers. To make it happen The Salvation Army coordinated with

Homeless Liaisons from the Richland One, Richland Two, and Lex-

ington Two school systems to identify 250 children in need. Inner-

sole graciously supplied all of the sneakers.

Coach Staley and Innersole were at The Salvation Army to distrib-

ute sneakers to families who had pre-qualified several weeks ear-

lier. Coach Staley posed for photos with inspired children and their

parents and gave out plenty of hugs too.

“I’m so used to seeing you on TV,” said one woman who was sur-

prised to see Coach Staley when she picked up sneakers for her

four children. “I wasn’t ready for that!”

“This is a beautiful thing you’re doing,” said one smiling woman

whose son received a pair of red and blue Spiderman sneakers.

Coach Staley stated: “Hopefully we can lend a ray of hope by giving

out new sneakers. Anytime you can feel a genuine thank you, you

feel good about what you do.”

Urgent Need: Leveraging Literacy Afternoon Reading

Program Needs Funding

Donations are needed to support The Salvation

Army’s Leveraging Literacy reading program which

helps children in 2nd—5th grade who read below

grade level. Leveraging Literacy meets everyday when

school is in session. The program builds vocabulary,

fluency, and reading comprehension. Our teachers

make use of class time by teaching one lesson a day,

doing worksheets and assessments on that lesson

and working individually with each student. Fourteen

children completed the 2013-2014 reading program

and every child demonstrated an increase in reading

skills. Based on a pre-test / post-test reading assess-

ment, the average increase for students was 1.13

grade levels. The two students who showed the

greatest increase improved 1.8 grade levels. In fact,

13 of the 14 children (93%) are progressing to the

next grade in August 2014. All 14 children live at or

below poverty level.

Support Salvation Army programs

by mailing your donation today.

PO Box 2786

Columbia, SC 29202

Did you know? Salvation Army of the Midlands FY 2013

Impact

• 188,931 meals were served to the homeless

• 2,126 families received emergency basic needs as-

sistance including rent, utility, water, food boxes

• 1,527 clothing vouchers were issued

• 4,587 hygiene kits were distributed

• 4,108 children were given new gifts for Christmas

• 1,832 families received Christmas assistance

• 3,012 food boxes were distributed at Christmas

• 248 children received new, well-fitting clothes,

shoes, and school supplies through the Clothes for

Kids program

• 87 children and youth enjoyed Salvation Army sum-

mer camp for a week

Visit us at DoingtheMostGood.org and Facebook.com/

SalvationArmyMidlands

United Way of the Midlands Community Partner

Coach Staley and Innersole were at The Salvation Army to distribute

sneakers to families who had pre-qualified several weeks earlier.

Coach Staley posed for photos with inspired children and their

parents and gave out plenty of hugs too.

Visit us at www.DoingtheMostGood.org and

www.Facebook.com/SalvationArmyMidlands