Ask people on the street what they know about the Salvation Army and it’ll almost certainly be their community work. Many don’t even realise that The Salvation Army is a church, but only recognise the charity efforts of the movement.
The Salvation Army in Gloucester continues to uphold the calling first heard by William Booth, to seek out and help those in our society who are in need, and first to provide for their physical needs, showing the love of God through care and provision. The S Army provide a cooked lunch on a weekly basis for up to 80 men and women in need, with assistance from volunteers from Gloucester City Mission and a nurse from the Homeless Healthcare Team who provides for basic health needs. Throughout the week they provide help for those who need clothing, food and other necessities. At Christmas, through the generous support of many donors and the money collected in the City Centre and at supermarkets while they sing carols, the army are able to provide food hampers and gifts of toys for families in need who have been referred through Social Services or family centres. Each Christmas approximately 325 hampers and toys for 300 children are distributed in Gloucester as a result of these efforts. The number of recipients of these Christmas gifts has trebled over the last 5 years. “We could not meet this need without the generosity of the public”. “Each year the Annual Appeal raises substantial sums for helping those in need across the United Kingdom. Of course, we only carry the collecting boxes, and want to thank those in Gloucester who donate in excess of £4,000 each year in this way”.
