| Elmira Salvation Army had a busy summer, sending children to camp and helping families suffering recent unemployment.
19 Enjoy Summer Camp
"The summer months of June, July and August were fun and educational for our youth," notes Major Chris Stephens. " We sent 19 children to camp, and 16 out of the 19 were first-time attendees.
"I remember when I went to pick them up, how many were actually crying, not to go home, but to stay. Camp Long Point is a wonderful place and holds many memories for the young at heart."
Extra Good Giveaway
Thanks to $25,000 in surplus monies from the government's Emergency Food and Shelter Programs, the Elmira Salvation Army was able to supply "those recently unemployed" with an extra two weeks of food, Major Stephens reports.
"We had four distributions and we served a total of 263 families."
Backpacks for Kids
Since the State of New York giving a $200 per child back-to-school grant for low income, "we decided to give back-to-school backpacks to those families with school aged children that were coming for those four extra food distributions," Major Stephens notes.
"In many cases it was the working poor," he says. "We distributed 40 backpacks."
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