News from Salvation Army: Canandaigua

CANANDAIGUA - The Salvation Army in Canandaigua launched the public portion of a $1.5 million capital campaign Jan. 28, announcing it already had raised $1.156 million in private pledges and donations.

The capital campaign will fund the renovation and expansion of the facility at 110 Saltonstall Street, to better accommodate and grow programs and services, said Capt. Robert Ginter, who with his wife, Capt. Donna Ginter, heads the local operation.

Calling The Salvation Army "one of the most important, constructive and useful organizations in our community," Honorary Capital Campaign Chair George M. Ewing Sr. said the current facility "is 30 years old" and "is literally bursting at the seams."

"For example," he said, "the gym must double as a dining room, as well as a distribution center for Meals on Wheels. Likewise, the chapel area must also be used as a meeting room for the youth group. The result of this overcrowding is that untold hours must be spent taking rooms down and setting them up again."

The project, he said, will enlarge the facility by nearly one-third, from 10,000 to 14,000 square feet, plus acquire an adjoining two-acre plot with a 4,000-square-foot building that will be remodeled. A two-story addition to the current facility will house a new community dining room, community meeting room and classroom for Salvation Army and community use. There will be barrier-free facilities, including an elevator, access doors, restrooms and showers. The project also will renovate the 2,000-square-foot gym to its original use, remodel and expand the kitchen and food pantry, and develop a dedicated computer lab for all levels of education and skills.

"Over five times as many people use our facility now as when we last expanded our building in 1991," noted Advisory Board Chairman Tom Mees. "Since 2000, overcrowding has become a major problem."

Mees said The Salvation Army has become a significant community resource, regularly serving:

• Pre-school children aged 3 to 5 through the "Little Learners" program.
• Needy families through food distribution and emergency assistance.
• Seniors who visit its "Golden Spot" center for daily activities and meals.
• Children and teens (kindergarden to 8th grade) through daily homework tutoring and recreation at its highly-acclaimed Phoenix Program, co-sponsored by the Canandaigua Police Department.
• Children and seniors through summer camping.
• Children and adults through daily hot meals.
• Teen recreation programs twice monthly on Friday evenings.

"In addition," Mees said, "our kitchen, meeting rooms and gym are frequently used by other community service organizations." These include ARC of Ontario County, AARP, Alcoholics Anonymous, church youth groups, GED classes through Finger Lakes Community College, Heart-AIC (Adults in Crisis), Narcotics Anonymous, Ontario County Family Court Supervised Visitation Program, Office for the Aging and its Meals on Wheels, and sports team practice.

"Now we're asking the community to make a pledge and ensure a successful campaign," Mees added. "With $1.156 million raised so far, we just have $340,000 to go."

To make a donation, or to make a pledge payable over five years, call The Salvation Army at 585-394-6968, or go online to www.SalvationArmyCDGA.org. Donations may also be mailed to The Salvation Army, 110 Saltonstall Street, P.O. Box 510, Canandaigua, NY 14424-0510.

Labels: Events, Fund Raising, Press Release