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East County News Service
March 31, 2016 (El Cajon) -- As part of a Capital Campaign that will improve the lives of thousands, The Salvation Army in El Cajon will build a $5.4 million social services facility that will help to assist 1,500 families in East County every month. In a community where the poverty rate is approximately 30%--and 7,395 children living within two miles of our corps qualify for free or reduced price meals--the Salvation Army is there offering hope and a hand-up. More than 40,000 are served from our El Cajon Corps annually with programs including:
- Homework center, after-school & youth development programs
- Food and clothing distribution & basic needs support
- Senior services including Cool Zones
- Back Country mobile response team
- Spiritual enrichment
“The Salvation Army El Cajon Corps Community Center is already an integral part of the East County community but we must do more for our area’s neediest families,” the organization’s website states. The vision is to build a new center at its current site featuring:
- Choice Food Pantry, Social Services Center, and Teaching Kitchen offering hungry families an opportunity to work with a trained volunteer to select items from the key food groups. Choice pantries reduce waste, create teaching opportunities and return families to food independence.
- Gymnasium & Youth Center for area youth and family, offering free and affordable wellness and sports activities
- Chapel, classroom and meeting space allowing for expansion of existing programs currently at capacity
The total cost for ther new center is $5.4 million. The Walter J. & Betty C. Zable Foundation has committed $1,000,000 as the lead gift. The Salvation Army seeks matching funds for the gift to start construction. ift is a challenge to the community and we need additional support to fulfill the match and raise the funds needed to begin construction.
“We are so grateful to The Walter J. & Betty C. Zable Foundation for this gift,” says Captain Terry Masango. “We are one step closer to our goal and one step closer to ending the cycle of poverty in East County.”
For more information or to donate, visit http://www.salvationarmyelcajon.com/building-project/index.html.
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