History
History of The Salvation Army
In 1865 William Booth, an ordained Methodist minister, and his wife, Catherine, formed an evangelical group dedicated to outreach among impoverished people living in London’s East End. Known first as The Christian Mission, Booth’s ministry became The Salvation Army in 1878 and adopted a military pattern. Booth, “the General,” gave officers’ rankings to fellow ministers. This army of individuals was, and is still, dedicated to fighting against evil and ministering to the whole person in body, mind, and spirit. Today The Salvation Army operates in 119 countries, in 175 different languages.
Red Kettles
Change goes in. Change comes out.
The kettle first appeared on the streets of San Francisco in the early 1890s. The brainchild of Captain Joseph McFee, the kettles were used in a campaign to raise funds for a shelter in the waterfront district. Captain McFee suspended a large cooking pot from a tripod and placed a sign above it that read: "Keep the pot boiling." Soon thereafter, Christmas kettles began appearing in communities across the United States–including Charlotte in 1905–and are now an indispensable part of the holiday season.
Our Structure
Officers
Commissioned from one of four Colleges for Officer’s Training in the United States, officers are full-time personnel, who lead both the spiritual and social services work of The Salvation Army. Their ranks descend from General (the international leader stationed at International Headquarters in London) down to Lieutenant (the rank assigned at commissioning). Charlotte’s area commanders are Major Todd and Captain Bethany Hawks. LINK
Soldiers
Soldiers are members of The Salvation Army worship centers. They have signed a statement of belief, pledging to live up to a high code of moral conduct. They usually are employed outside of The Salvation Army in all manners of vocations and careers.
Advisory Board Members
Advisory Board members supply the backbone of public support that sustains The Salvation Army in a local community. This board of volunteers advises The Salvation Army on matters of community priorities and needs, and also serves as its fundraising arm.
Local History
The Salvation Army arrived in Charlotte in 1904 and quickly began serving the community.
Our first Christmas
Thanks to the now famous red kettles which collected the donations of the community, Christmas services were provided to those in need for the first time in 1905. 1979 brought the Christmas Bureau, a joint effort with The Charlotte Observer’s Empty Stocking Fund, CMPD, United Way and Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services, under our coordination.
Providing shelter
In 1921, land and a building at 115 E. Fifth Street were purchased for headquarters space along with a transient lodge for men. Over the years, our men’s lodging transitioned into our current Adult Rehabilitation Center which has called Central Avenue home since 1998. Senator James A. Bell offered his former home at 400 N. Popular for a women and children’s emergency home in 1924. In 1991, through the generosity of Bank of America, The Center of Hope moved into its 224-bed home, more able than ever to shelter the area’s homeless women and children. Booth Garden senior housing was opened in 1978 and continues to serve its residents on its original North Poplar Street location.
Serving youth
Our services to youth increased from summer camps to year-round programming at the request of public officials dealing with the juvenile delinquency of the depression. The Red Shields Boy’s Club was formed in 1934 with 64 members enrolled that year. By 1937, a Red Shield Girls’ Club was created. The now named Boys & Girls Clubs have made their home throughout Charlotte, including Charlotte Housing Authority communities and a first for the nation – in a homeless shelter, The Center of Hope.
Worship
Central to The Salvation Army’s beliefs is the value of worship. Temple Corps has been providing a spiritual home to Charlotte community since February 2, 1904. Today, after several moves, Temple Corps calls Marsh Road home. Opened in June 1940, Belmont Corps has also allowed the community a place to gather for worship as well as a space for us to provide services. The original Belmont Corps was destroyed by fire in April 1956 but rebuilt on the same site, which it still calls home today.
Meeting the needs
In 2009 we opened our doors to 52,252 in need, provided 246,072 meals, filled 3,795 grocery orders, and donated 291 clothing items. We provided more than 5,600 women and children a safe night's sleep and assisted 18,647 through a variety of assistance programs. During the holiday season, The Salvation Army distributed 53,568 toys and gave gifts to 18,073 shut-ins. Our volunteers gave 24,608 hours in 2009, a value of $498,312 (independentsector.org).
As the community needs have grown, we have continued to remain a force effectively meeting those needs. Today, The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte operates throughout Mecklenburg and Union counties, offering a variety of services.
The Center of Hope: On any given night, more than 300 women and children come to our shelter seeking a bed, food, and safety. As the largest emergency shelter for homeless women and children in the Southeast, the Center of Hope is often their only hope. The shelter offers more than health care, intervention programs, and case management; it offers a way out of homelessness—and hope for a better life.
The Boys & Girls Clubs: In a recent survey of Club alumni, 57 percent said that the Clubs “saved their lives.” Ninety percent said it was the best thing available to them in their troubled neighborhoods, and 90 percent graduated high school.
Booth Garden Apartments: With rising costs for housing, health care, and transportation, many elderly citizens find it impossible to get by with no savings and limited income. Located in Charlotte’s historic Fourth Ward, Booth Garden—The Salvation Army’s 128-unit apartment complex—offers low-income seniors a safe, affordable place to live in which they can remain independent, preserve their dignity, and socialize with peers in a family atmosphere.
Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC): The ARC provides residential housing with work, group, and individual therapy to more than 100 homeless men to help them recognize the value of their lives and learn skills essential for their transition to independent housing and recovery.
Corps Community Centers: The Corps worship centers are dedicated to our founder’s mission to bring hope and healing to people from all walks of life. Worship centers offer programs for the entire family, including youth and adult ministry and social services.
Christmas Services: Each year The Salvation Army assists over 21,000 people in Mecklenburg and Union counties for holiday assistance, enabling them to allocate their resources to cover living expenses. These programs are for children, families, and seniors who qualify.
Disaster Services: The Salvation Army is among the first responders to local community disasters such as destructive weather to state and national tragedies. The Piedmont area Disaster Services team consists of a number of officers, staff and volunteer who are ready and fully prepared to quickly deploy to provide emergency food, shelter, clothing and spiritual comfort to firefighters, police officers and victims alike.