vision

When their friends lost everything
in the California wildfires...

Karen and Dave Thompson wanted to help. As founder of Lace Silhouettes Lingerie, Inc., Karen had access to undergarments and pajamas, and quickly assembled "care packages"containing essential clothing items needed by their friends. It was an "Aha!" moment for Karen when she realized her involvement with the clothing industry provided a perfect vehicle for gathering donated pajamas and underwear to be shared with disaster victims. Thankfully, the Thompsons' experience helping communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina prompted Karen to approach The Salvation Army about using its large scale emergency supplies distribution center to connect disaster victims with her clothing inventory. The Army responded warmly to Karen's vision, and the Harry G. Thompson Pajama & Underwear Pantry was launched in 2009. The pantry is named in honor of Karen's late father-in-law, who never forgot The Salvation Army's kindness to his family as a child.