CONTACT: Tandy Graham, tandygraham@gmail.com

For over a dozen years, Providence Presbyterian Church has had a close
relationship with the Salvation Army Center of Hope (SACOH.) Eleven of those
years involved our housing at least twelve women from SACOH giving them
refuge from living in the crowded and noisy shelter or living on the streets for two
weeks. Relationships developed with these women, some of which continue.

While enjoying lunch one day last month with Majors Wilma and Todd
Mason, who are presently the “area commanders” of the Salvation Army’s
operations in the Charlotte and Mecklenburg area, I was amazed to learn of all
the Salvation Army does in our city. My myopic view was only of the Center of
Hope and the Boys and Girls Club housed there, but the Army also has programs
that target “youth support and development, homeless services, Christmas
assistance, adult rehabilitation, emergency disaster relief, summer camp and
communities of worship” to quote from their brochure.

Our Outreach Committee has designated April’s focus on The Salvation
Army and Majors Todd and Wilma Mason will be joining our Sunday School class
hour on April 30 th to share with us all they do and how we can continue to support
its efforts. Fundraising has been successful for the last two years to help SACOH
when COVID prevented us from housing the women, but this year, let’s do
something different!

THE WELCOME HOME BASKET PROJECT , sponsored by the SA, outfits
those transitioning from shelters into housing with household goods that could
add up and be costly. How about we fill up laundry baskets with some of these
goods such as:

Dish Towels
Dish Cloths
Dish soaps
Hand soap
Dish brushes
Brillo pads
Laundry detergent
Glass cleaner
Coat hangers
Shower / Bathtub cleaner
Paper towels AND
Toilet Paper
These baskets could be filled by our Circles, small groups such as TGIM and book
clubs, Sunday School classes, committees such as Worship and Music, youth groups and

individuals. Including a personal note wishing this new “homeowner” good luck with God’s
blessings would add to this special gift. Here is a link to the SA site regarding these baskets.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/uss-cache.salvationarmy.org/4cd5e95a-329b-4a5e-
b541-bdcc7a91e442_Welcome+Home+Basket+Project.pdf

Let’s present these baskets to the Majors on April 30th when they visit us.
Won’t it be fun to proceed into the Fellowship Hall with our contributions after
their presentation?!?

Use our SignUp Genius link HERE to let us know how many baskets we can expect
including some help delivering the baskets to the Center of Hope.