In 1865, William Booth, an ordained Methodist minister, aided by his wife Catherine, formed an evangelical group dedicated to preaching among the “unchurched” people living in the midst of appalling poverty in London’s East End. Booth’s ministry recognized the interdependence of material, emotional and spiritual needs. In addition to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, Booth became involved in the feeding and shelter of the hungry and homeless and in rehabilitation of alcoholics.
Booth and his followers, originally known as The Christian Mission, became The Salvation Army in 1878, when that organization evolved on a quasi-military pattern. Booth became “the General” and officers’ ranks were given to his ministers.
The Salvation Amy has functioned successfully within that unusual structure for more than a century. As of 2005, its outreach has been expanded to include more than 100 countries, and the Gospel is preached by its officers in more than 160 languages.
What We Do
The basic social services developed by William Booth have remained an outward visible expression of the Army’s strong religious principles. In addition, new programs that address contemporary needs have been established. Among these are disaster relief services, day care centers, summer camps, holiday assistance, services for the aging, AIDS education and residential services, medical facilities, shelters for battered women and children, family and career counseling, vocational training, correction services, and substance abuse rehabilitation. More than 30 million a year are aided in some form by services provided by The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army in Spokane is unique in its programs by offering services beyond the scope of many non-profits. Sally's House, our emergency foster-care home, and Transitional Housing, our answer to the cycle of poverty and homelessness, are one-of-a-kind programs within the United States. In a world where its frantic pace and constant development advances often overshadow the problems that remain in our communities, we endeavor to remain at the forefront of social services. The Salvation Army will always be there to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and love those who are hurting.
Who We Are
The Salvation Army’s membership consists of 3500 officers, 60,000 employees, 113,000 soldiers, 430,000 adherents, and more than 3.5 million volunteers. Adherents are people who have elected not to be enrolled as soldiers but consider The Salvation Army to be their place of worship. Soldiers are those who have signed a declaration of faith and practice known as A Soldiers’ Covenant and worship and serve through a local corps. Employees are personnel hired to perform specialized duties in fields such as social services, youth service, accounting, development, law, and property. Volunteers are those who give freely of their time, enabling The Salvation Army to meet far more community needs than otherwise possible.
Officers are the clergy of The Salvation Army. They have completed training and have been ordained and commissioned to officership. All officers are engaged in continuing education. With its Christian heritage and motivation, The Salvation Army continues its unique service to all people in the name of Christ.
Fundraising
Salvation Army fund-raising campaigns are conducted on a local and regional basis. There is no fund-raising at the national level. The normal source of funds are the traditional Christmas kettle campaigns, direct-mail programs, corporate and foundation gifts, planned giving, and government contracts. The organization’s stewardship of its funding is noted throughout philanthropy; 83 cents of every dollar collected by the Army goes directly to client service – among the highest percentages of any non-profit in the world.
Advisory Organizations
Our Advisory Board, comprised of representative community, corporate, and civic leaders, perform a valuable service by providing advice and acting as liaison between The Salvation Army and the community. The Board interprets community needs to The Salvation Army and facilitates the development of resources, enabling The Salvation Army to respond to critical community needs.