2011 Annual Report
From your Salvation Army Advisory Board Chairman
2011 was a year of progress and growth at the Durham and Orange Salvation Army. Our professional staff, Advisory Board and volunteers continued to refine and begin implementation of our new strategic plan. Our continual focus is to make sure that our objectives and processes are the right path to "Doing the Most Good".
Helping those who suffer through emergency relief and providing a safe, healthy environment for kids to have fun are worthy goals in themselves. This year we have committed ourselves to a more ambitious task: to help break the cycle of poverty in the communities we serve. Through the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, we are committing to adding reading programs to ensure that every child in our Club reads at least at grade level. Reading skills are a critical determinant of academic success and we think we can make a difference at a critical time in the lives of these children. Through the Social Services Dept., we are committing ourselves to supporting the families of these children and assisting their parents or other caregivers in improving their job and life skills, as well as providing relief.
We continue to increasingly rely on the community for support, both volunteer and financial. This year we added a volunteer coordinator to our staff to make sure we are most effective in utilizing the contributions of the many folks who offer us their time and talent. Be assured that the staff and the Advisory Board are extremely grateful for your financial support and take the responsibility for the resources you've entrusted us with the highest seriousness.
Thank you again for your interest in our work. Please feel free to contact Major Smith or me with any suggestions, questions or concerns you may have.
James A. Bick