By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Who is there when a mother just can't make her rent and the landlord is ready to send her out the door? Who keeps the firefighters supplied with food and water, as they battle a prolonged warehouse fire? When children are hungry and the cupboards are bare, there is an army ready to step in and help – the Salvation Army.
The presentation of a check, to host Captain William Walters of the Salvation Army, was the highlight of the United Way of Greater Niles' annual meeting. Two volunteers were also recognized for their years of service to United Way.
Walters accepted the $36,672 check from John Stauffer, the organization's executive director. The meeting was held at the Niles Salvation Army, 424 N. 15th St., Wednesday evening.
Retiring United Way President Jim Johnson was recognized for his years of service to the group. Stauffer credited Johnson and Heidi Letts, who worked in the office, with being a great help to him when he started with United Way.
"In 2002, these two were the United Way locally. There was no director and then when I came on, it was thanks to them we got through that first campaign." Stauffer said.
Walters, had worked with a number of United Way agencies in previous postings, and said the United Way in Niles was the best he has been involved with.
"As part of the Evangelical Christian Church, all of our Salvation Army programs are done in Jesus' name. Our biggest program by far is our utility program. We help with disconnect notices where possible. Some of the bills can be very high, for instance $850 dollars, which we cannot possibly pay for all and remain a viable program. We try to get the client to take ownership of the problem in all cases. Our principle is to help people up and not out."
The Salvation Army in many cases will partner with other community groups and agencies for services such as budgeting classes.
They offer a rent program for which they generally pay approximately $350 toward settling with a landlord, who has issued an eviction notice. Help of this kind will only be offered an individual once a year and whether the eviction is demand or court ordered, the tenant must be willing to provide the notice to receive help.
"Boy, you served up some good meal today. I had two people come over to see me after lunch and they were saying what a great meal of lasagna they had just had here," said Lisa Buzby, executive director of the Ferry Street School Community Center and member of the United Way board.
"Today, we had 20 people in for lunch, lasagna, salad and garlic bread. We participate in local food drives and just received 10,000 pounds of food from the letter carriers' drive. Some of the food we store with the Christian Embassy of Michiana, until we have room here," Walters said.
The Captain talked about the disaster services offered as well. Using an old canteen truck donated from Goshen, and repaired free of charge by Scott Clark, by the local Salvation Army is the re-hydration plan in keeping with Fire Department regulations in the case of prolonged fires.
The canteen is also utilized as needed by police or emergency services for mobile feeding and hydration in times of disaster. There is consideration to possibly use it in the future as a kind of soup kitchen on wheels.
During the business meeting portion of the gathering, a new executive was elected for the board. The executive for the 2007-08 session is Betty Perkins, president; Nancy Studebaker vice president Dick DeVos, treasurer. Stauffer serves as secretary to the board.