Salvation Army Expands Space for Improved Services to the Dublin Community
After months of renovations to expand the floor space of the Dublin Salvation Army Family Store, officials will celebrate its grand re-opening on February 2 with the ribbon cutting ceremony taking place at 11:30AM at 1617 Telfair Street. Major Jim Smith, The Salvation Army Georgia Division Emergency and Disaster Services Director will be the keynote speaker.
James Allen, The Salvation Army Service Center Director for Dublin said, “We are proud to mark this occasion that came from our need to expand our former storage space into sales space to better serve our donors and customers in Laurens County.”
Activities scheduled for the occasion include refreshments served from the canteen which is the disaster mobile feeding unit, and customer appreciation day on Saturday, February 4 with giveaways, prizes, and special savings during the day.
Allen commented that the square footage of the new space is approximately 600 square feet and will allow the family store to increase its assistance to the community through increased revenue from store sales. Sales from Salvation Army Family Stores provide supplemental income which support the food pantry, holiday assistance, disaster assistance, and utility grants to those struggling to make ends meet and more.
“We have seen a steady increase in needs,” remarks Allen, explaining why this expansion was necessary. “In this community, we are seeing a new population coming to us for food who never thought they would come through our doors for that reason. The formerly middle-class has rapidly become the working poor who are struggling to provide a comfortable life for their families.”
Last year in Laurens County, the Dublin Center served more than1500 people in need of food and clothing, and provided utility assistance to 400 people struggling to pay their bills.
“The Salvation Army has always served the neediest,” says Allen, “and we depend on donations of clothing, furniture, and housewares from the community to do our work.
For more information about the re-opening celebration or to donate to The Salvation Army, call 478-275-7336 or mail your gifts to P.O. Box 592 Dublin, GA 31040.
