The Salvation Army’s Whittier/Santa Fe Springs Transitional Living Center received a much-deserved facelift on Thursday,June 25 as more than 150 employees from ARAMARK, a global provider of professional services, gave their time and labor to make a difference to enhance both the indoor and outdoor areas of the campus.

The day of service was part of ARAMARK Building Community, a company-wide initiative launched in 2008 that fosters long-term support for local community centers in more than 25 cities. The Whittier/Santa Fe Springs center is part of The Salvation Army’s  Southern California Division and provides a safe and healing refuge for families who have recently experienced a time of major personal crisis.  

 “Little details make a huge difference in the lives of our residents and the hard work by the ARAMARK volunteers enhancements will certainly help brighten and make a huge difference at the center,” said Lt. Col. Victor A. Leslie, The Salvation Army Southern California Divisional Commander. “This event and partnership with ARAMARK Building Community couldn’t come at a better time for us. The center provides services free of charge to our residents, funded through community donations, so the day’s projects will add much needed services to the center that would not have happened without the generosity and support of ARAMARK.”

National Donut Day was initiated by The Salvation Army in Chicago during the depression year of 1938. But of course the history of The Salvation Army and the ubiquitous donut goes all the way back to the battlefields of France of 1917. The American Expeditionary Force loved the donuts Salvation Army volunteers prepared for them so much, the soldiers were subsequently referred to as “doughboys.”

  
Fast forward to June 5 of 2009 and donuts are still helping The Salvation Army’s mission of providing social services to scores of people in need throughout Southern California. On this National Donut Day, The Salvation Army’s Southern California Division teamed up with corporate partner BakeMark, a company that provides baking supplies to more than a thousand independent bakeries and donut shops across the Southland in a National Donut Day celebration and a media and fund raising campaign. Rik Bennet, Vice President of Marketing for Bakemark presented Divisional Commander Lt. Col. Victor A. Leslie with a check for $10,000. "The generosity of socially-conscious companies like BakeMark is an integral component to the mission of The Salvation Army,” said Lt. Col. Leslie, On behalf of all the people this gift will help support, we thank BakeMark.” The Salvation Army would also like to thank all of the participating donut and bakery shops, including Rossmoor Pastries, for their participation in National Donut Day and hope to see all of them out in force next June.

More than 150 people impacted by the economic downturn came to The Salvation Army's Hope Fair in Van Nuys Friday. The event helped the unemployed, underemployed or otherwise struggling in today's economy get back on their feet again through free resources and advice offered by Salvation Army social service providers and volunteers in the community. Life-changing information, such as legal advice for those facing foreclosure, information on local Salvation Army food pantries and First 5 California's tips for caring for young children during tough times, as well as many other social services were available to all.

The Salvation Army is considering future events in the area. If you're in a position to help make events like this happen, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY and make a donation today!

The Jesusita Fire which began on Tuesday in the San Roque Canyon in the hills above Santa Barbara, continues to burn out of control, causing the mandatory evacuation of 14,000 residents. Preliminary reports suggest at least 20 houses have been destroyed.

The Salvation Army’s Santa Barbara Corps, under the leadership of Captain Robert Steiner, has mobilized its Canteen unit and is providing most of the food requirements at the Red Cross temporary shelter at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta. Approximately 20 Salvation Army staff and volunteers served more than 250 meals Wednesday and are expecting to serve about as many today. Over 100 individuals took refuge in this center last night and that number is expected to be slightly lower tonight.

The Salvation Army has offered its Hospitality House facility to certain special needs individuals for additional shelter space if the need arises. Salvation Army Canteens from San Luis Obispo, Ventura and Santa Maria remain on stand-by.

All natural disasters of this magnitude strain the resources of The Salvation Army. To help The Salvation Army continue its mission of responding to people in need, donations may be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or by clicking the DONATE NOW box in the top left portion of this site.