Salvation Army lines up its Charlotte projects for new $32 million fundraising effort
The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte hopes its latest fundraising campaign will “better the future” of communities it says have been underserved.
The $32 million “Better the Future” effort aims to fund the renovation and expansion of the nonprofit’s Center of Hope emergency shelter near uptown, renovation of the recently acquired Booth Commons Family Center, expansion of Boys & Girls Club facilities into Neighborhood Centers, and services and programs for families experiencing homelessness, according to Maj. Todd Mason, area commander in Charlotte.
“The Salvation Army worldwide has a rich history and tradition, but at the same time, we’re always looking forward and determining where we can help fill gaps in our community,” Mason said during a campaign launch event at the Milton Road Boys & Girls Club in east Charlotte on Wednesday.
The Salvation Army collected more than $12 million toward its goal during a silent phase that started last summer, Mason said. Now it’s time make the public aware of the campaign and make the goals a reality, he said.
The Milton Road Boys & Girls Club will be the pilot site for the Neighborhood Centers, Mason said. The Salvation Army has already purchased adjacent land for a roughly 12,000-square-foot multipurpose center. The site will contain private classrooms for adults GED courses, cooking, computer, financial literacy and other life skills classes, he said.
A field partially funded by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation was installed behind the Milton Road club in February 2020, and funds from the campaign will go toward community athletic programs — including a summer baseball league, Salvation Army spokesman Brent Rinehart said. The Charlotte Knights donated baseball equipment to the nonprofit, he said.
The next Neighborhood Centers will be at the Boys & Girls Clubs on Belmont Avenue and Marsh Road, Mason said. There are also Boys & Girls Clubs in Union County that the nonprofit is looking to expand, he said.
“The Salvation Army wants to continue its reach and its ministry to as many people as possible,” Mason said.
Expanding facilities, opportunities
To create more job opportunities for men dealing with substance abuse, the Salvation Army will use campaign funds to build a vehicle maintenance shop at its Adult Rehabilitation Center on Central Avenue and teach them mechanic skills, according to Mason.
A new gymnasium also will be constructed on the Central Avenue site.
The Salvation Army also will renovate and expand housing centers to create more space for homeless families, Mason said. Last July, families moved into a former extended-stay hotel that’s now named after co-founder Catherine Booth, he said.
The Booth Commons at Mulberry cost $7 million and has bathrooms, kitchenettes and space for up to 100 families — or around 400 individuals — at a time, according to the Salvation Army.
The Center of Hope emergency shelter on Spratt Street, built in 1992, will have a new wing built on for private dormitories, according to Mason. It also will get new plumbing.
“The campaign is really going to impact a lot of lives and allow us to really expand our reach and capacity,” Mason said.
