PETERSBURG-AK 2009 marks the 100th year for the Salvation Army in Petersburg and supporters will celebrate a century of service to the community this weekend.
This is also one of the busiest times of year for the charitable and religious organization, which has been short-staffed in Petersburg due to the illness of local salvation army captain Vicki Jackson.
The Army’s many services for the needy include a food pantry as well as holiday meals and gifts for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The church also offers youth programs, administers distribution of u-s-d-a commodities and provides energy assistance in Petersburg. One of its major, annual fundraising efforts – the kettle campaign – is coming up soon as well. The salvation army was originally founded in England in 1865 by a former Methodist minister named William booth. It grew into an international organization that provides aid to people around the world. Matt Lichtenstein spoke with local salvation army assistant Jess Franklin and Advisory Board member Neva Christiansen about the organization’s services and needs today, as well as its beginnings in Petersburg a century ago: