FEATURED AGENCY OF THE WEEK: The Salvation Army

When you have a physical need sometimes there is more to the story, another underlying cause. Maybe there is an emotion attached to the physical need, maybe you do not feel socially accepted and that is creating the physical need or maybe you have a spiritual disconnect and that is the underlying problem. The Salvation Army, Midland Corps seeks to serve the needs of the whole person physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

When you hear of The Salvation Army you probably think of the red kettle buckets at the mall during Christmastime. The Salvation Army is much more than that. They take the time to understand the entire situation of each struggling client that walks through their door, placing a great emphasis on family structure and development. The Salvation Army offers character building programs that help families develop attitudes and skills to improve family life, as well as a successful life for each individual involved. Specifically, they have partnered with The Diaper Alliance to meet the need for struggling families who need diaper assistance. Captain Brian Goodwill states, “We here at The Salvation Army feel we have been blessed to partner with The Diaper Alliance in order to help meet some of the most basic needs for parents in our community. Nearly every time we assist someone with diapers we hear them tell us ‘You don’t know how much this will help us out.’” Goodwill continues, “With the high price of diapers, along with the rising prices of other household basic necessities, this partnership is now more important than ever for the families we serve.”

Meeting immediate needs of those in our community is very important, but The Salvation Army focuses on addressing long-term issues that will generate real life change. Working with partners, like The Diaper Alliance, allows The Salvation Army to meet a variety of needs and give their clients the best possible assistance and care. If you would like to learn more about The Salvation Army visit their website or call Captain Brian Goodwill at (989) 496-2787.

FEATURED AGENCY OF THE WEEK: Caregiving Network

Imagine living solely off of food stamps and maybe some cash assistance, searching every single day for a place to work so you can clothe, shelter and provide for your family. Many of the clients at Caregiving Network live this life every time the sun comes up. Several clients are young single mothers who have no extra money for diapers and are in a desperate state, trying to provide for their child.

A Christian run non-profit organization, Caregiving Network, Inc., meets the basic needs of individuals who are living below the 2013 100% Poverty Income Level in Midland County. Caregiving Network partners with community organizations and local churches to teach skills and promote self-sufficiency to each individual who walks through their doors.

Not only does Caregiving Network work with The Diaper Alliance to provide diapers for families in need, they also have food, clothing, household and personal care pantries and provide transportation, rent and utility assistance. Since 1994, Caregiving Network has continued to shape the lives of those financially struggling in our community and with your support they can continue to do so. If you have any questions about volunteering or supporting our Partner Agency, Caregiving Network, please visit their website or call Executive Director, Tom Vander Zouwen, at (989) 837-9757.