Salvation Army Church

kat opper

They helped me in my time of need and I'm so grateful.

kent plegett

Salvation Army does not share their donations with the needy in the community. They will not give away any of their donations to the needy if asked, and money gotten from donations (sold in their store) I know goes to a rehabilitation center in Kansas City MO called the ARC. I think the public should be aware of this. Although they will give a clothes voucher to people if asked, it's not to be used at their thrift store (where there are a lot of things) but only to be used at a very small "store" called the Social Service League who only has a few racks of clothes and only allows people to get one set of clothes. Regarding Salvation Army saying they have programs, I don't believe this and I think they do not. I've asked about any program to help me, someone in need of housing, from a case worker and I was told there was none, and I don't think they have "programs", as they claim. The only thing I can tell they do for the needy is to feed lunch three days a week and I'm sure the food is donated and Salvation Army didn't buy it. Salvation Army does have a food pantry which is available to the needy, but I believe the food is also donated and Salvation Army didn't buy it. I once asked a case worker if I could get help with gas in my car (even $5) and I was denied this and told "we don't do that". I think they do very little for the community here, and I know proceeds from their thrift store do not go to help the needy in the Lawrence. I don't know anyone who's been helped by any program at Salvation Army in Lawrence, and I don't think they have programs. If they do, they don't advertise it and when people ask, they tell them they do not. I think donations should be given to the Ballard Center (at 708 Elm St.) or to the Social Service League (at 905 Rhode Island), since they're the only ones who will give away free clothes to the needy. Salvation Army in Lawrence will not give away items from their thrift store. I've asked about this several times and that's what I was told.

Jack Davis

They don't really have lots of programs as someone incorrectly wrote in a previous review. I inquired about a program as someone in need and I was told they only help a few people and those people stay in the "program" a long time and they wouldn't accept me in a program or help me. I think they have very few programs and I think they help very few people in programs, which I think they don't want the community to know. Regarding their thrift store on 23rd St., they won't share any of their donations with the needy or give any of these things away for free. If you ask for assistance with clothing, they'll give you a voucher to a very small thrift store called Urban League (which isn't their store) but they will not give clothing assistance (with vouchers) for their store on 23rd St. They obviously want to keep all donations and only sell them and will not give anything away for free -- which is not charitable and for this reason, I don't think the public should give them donations. The Ballard Center does give away free things but Salvation Army will not with their donations, although they get a lot. I recently asked if I could get help with gas in my car as someone who was living in my car and starting a new job -- but they refused to do that and I was told they don't help with that. I really think they help the needy very little and the only assistance I've gotten from Salvation Army is that they provide lunches three times a week to the public -- which I believe the food is donated and not anything they purchased. I think Salvation Army gets a lot of money from their thrift store and with bell ringers but I don't think most of it goes to help the poor and needy but goes to corporate or staff.

Lauren Ashley

I am extremely disappointed it the leadership at this Salvation Army this year my father has been ringing the Salvation Army bell every year in Lawrence for the last 6 years and this year he was let go because he missed one day because he became ill. He is a very hard working man and willing to work in the extreme weather every year to help this organization reach their goals he has always met his quota and gone over so many times. I'm so hurt that every year some one new comes in and it's just a great disaster of leadership.