Salvation Army to launch new community center for all ages
The Salvation Army will no longer be associated with the Boys and Girls Club beginning in January 2019.
The charitable organization will instead be launching the Red Shield Community Center.
The difference will be that the new community center will serve all ages, not just the youth.
“When we do implement the Salvation Army Red Shield Community Center that there will be no loss in the program but there will also be no loss in jobs. We are actually going to continue carrying our same employees and with that, it will continue to provide services to our community,” explained Captain Jeffrey Breazeale, The Salvation Army Yuma County Coordinator.
The Salvation Army added they will no longer have to pay a $3,000 annual fee to the Boys and Girls Club. Instead, they intend to use that money on the expansion of the community center.
They said it is because the Boys and Girls Club has been rooted in the Yuma community for decades.
As for donors and the board members’ response to the announcement, the Salvation Army claimed they have received some backlash.
“The boys and girls club is something that is strong in our community. Its been here for several decades as well as the Salvation Army for six decades. In doing so, we are moving in a direction to where it is like I said more holistic and more focused on the entire family instead of just youth programming,” said Captain Breazeale.
Parents also weighed in on the decision. One even claimed they had no idea about the change until Tuesday and was concerned about the separation of children and adults.
“I know now that when I drop off my kids, there’s only authorized adults in there. They have very good blocked doors and everything like that. How is that going to work? Are they going to lock the kids in one room? I rely on the legit people and support for the kids and I don’t want any other people that I don’t know who’s going to be next to them,” said by a parent who asked to be anonymous.
The Salvation Army took over operations of the Boys and Girls Club from the City of Yuma in August 2002.
