Salvation Army still serving kids despite backlash

The Salvation Army is facing legal backlash for their decision to drop the Boys and Girls Club this year, but dozens of children are still flooding their doors after the final school bell rings.

Yeshua De Los Reyes is one of the 75 children that head to the community center.

He said he has learned throughout his time there and even considers some of the staff mentors.

“This computer teacher, he used to work here, Mr. Miguel. He did things here, coding, stuff like that . He taught me a lot of things. We did this thing called swift playground. it’s on the computer. It’s pretty cool. You get to code. They’re little figures. It’s pretty cool,” said De Los Reyes.

The Salvation Army claimed that although they told the Boys and Girls Club they would not be renewing their membership, they still have signs showing the affiliation. The organization added that the signs will not come down until all legal talks between them and the City of Yuma are over.

Captain Jeff Breazeale, the Salvation Army’s Yuma County coordinator, addressed the possibility of whether the affiliation could stick around and said he cannot answer that while legal talks are in motion.

The Salvation Army also claimed not much has changed for the nearly 75 kids who head to the community center after school.

They do not plan to change much if and when the Boys and Girls Club signs come down.

“Before that up until 12 o’clock, the facility is open and available for agencies to come in and have a meeting or do a pickup basketball game, or come in and use the computer lab to build a resume. Also, after 5 o’clock in the evening, we have several programs that go on,” said Captain Breazeale.

The Salvation Army announced they were dropping the Boys and Girls Club program in October.

They say their message to the parents was that they would still provide the services they have been offering for their families for years.

The Salvation Army also responded to some critics.

“In the last month or so, discussion about being a church or just having a church building was brought up. The Salvation Army has been a church since 1865, 150 plus years. We don’t look for buildings to have church in. We look for communities to be able to serve in,” said Breazeale.