OCALA, FL (352today.com) – It’s been a beacon of hope for everyone that’s come in and out of their doors.
The Salvation Army is one of the nation’s largest service providers, with their far reaching charitable efforts addressing the needs of those who are the community’s most vulnerable.
In late June, two new majors arrived, Jason and Melissa Smith, to continue the Salvation Army of Ocala‘s mission to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to help those in need. They’ve been officers for 18 years, and their appointments prior to starting their tenure in Ocala, were in Savannah, Ga. and Columbus, Ga.
The Salvation Army’s shelter, which has faced challenging economic times, with the possibility of its doors being shuttered because of a shortfall in its funding, plays a critical role in the community, providing much needed refuge, for homeless men, women and children. At normal capacity, there are 104 beds.
The city’s exponential growth, rise in insurance costs, lack of affordable housing, and low-paying jobs are among the variables that are adding to the homeless situation.
“Ocala’s not unique in this, in most communities there’s an affordable housing deficit, especially based off of the growing population,” said Maj. Jason Smith.
A series of untoward events or one misfortune can cause someone to be homeless, and find themselves in need of the Salvation Army’s services.
“We always say that people don’t come to the Salvation Army on their best day needing help,” said Maj. Jason Smith. “We want to ensure and make sure those who are seeking our assistance, they can get to us and get the assistance that they need, and we have the funds in order to provide those services.”
Donations have become less since the end of the pandemic, and although those resources are not as deep as they’ve been in the past, the need is still there in the community, and with that comes challenges and opportunities. The Salvation Army’s promise is to treat each one of their clients with dignity.
Grants and contracts provide the Salvation Army with the resources that they need, but they do look to those general operating dollars that people give to them.
“Our $10 donors are just as important as our $1000 donors,” said Maj. Jason Smith. “We thank them for the trust that they’ve placed into us.”
It’s important for the community to understand that the Salvation Army doesn’t operate from the top down, it operates from the local units up, said Maj. Melissa Smith. The donors in Ocala are very generous, and there are many who are long-time donors, and the nonprofit is very thankful for them.
“If the local community doesn’t support the Salvation Army in their community, then the Salvation Army can’t remain in that community,” said Maj. Melissa Smith. “We are affected directly by local donations in the services we can provide to the community. We do have a hierarchal system that can deliver aid to us when we need it, but that is very limited and is only in emergency situations, and it won’t sustain any of our programs.”
However, the new majors are placing an emphasis in making certain the community is aware of what the Salvation Army does, and intend to be proactive in engaging citizens through education about the services they’re providing day-to-day that people may not be aware of, said Maj. Melissa Smith.
“We want to get people out of poverty and get them to a place where they’re back on their feet and become productive citizens, and we do rely on the community to do that,” said Maj. Jason Smith.
