Vail Valley Salvation Army - (970) 748-0704

Helping people in the Vail Valley
http://www.salvationarmyvail.org/

• Holiday Food Baskets: Our service unit provides holiday food baskets during the holidays ( more than 427 for Thanksgiving, 2008 and 529 for Christmas, 2008, 558 for Thanksgiving, 2009 and 621 for Christmas, 2009.
• Adopt-A-Family: We match donor with low-income families to provide food, clothing, household needs and “holiday gifts” (341 in 2009).

Holiday Projects include Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets, Adopt-a-Family, and the Holiday Cabin.

Our holiday projects not only provide food and warm clothing to our low-income children and families, but these projects also provide an opportunity to our more fortunate individuals and groups to be able to contribute to the well-being of others. It is a goal of many parents, schools, churches and clubs to teach their children that they are in a privileged position to be able to give to others

Beneficiaries
Poor/Economically Disadvantaged, Indigent, General

Long Term Success
In a perfect world, families would not be in need of these programs.

Short Term Success
The primary way we track these programs is by the numbers of families served. The numbers have steadily increased over the years.

Monitor Progress

Evidence of Success

There is an enormous number of volunteers who help by ringing the bell at Christmas, Adopting a Family, working in the Holiday Cabin, assembling and delivering Holiday food baskets, and myriad other activities.

Stranded Motorists, Shelters, Canteen

Program Description

• Emergency shelters: We provide emergency shelters for road closures, and temporary housing for people in emergency situations. We are a partner in a community plan for pandemic preparedness.
• Canteen: We have a commercial kitchen on a 4-wheel drive vehicle that can provide 200 meals per hour to emergency responders. This has been called out several times since its arrival.
• Law Enforcement Programs: Our service unit provides bus tickets, gasoline vouchers and food vouchers to various law enforcement agencies throughout the valley to help people who contact them with emergency transportation needs. We also work with the various public safety agencies when they have clients with emergency needs due to domestic violence or other situations.

Long Term Success

The Canteen is run by our Committee member Randy Bowers, and staffed by local volunteers. In a typical year, it responds to 5 or 6 incidents and can be requested by any public service agency in Central Colorado. Training on the vehicle are also conducted several times a year to keep skills sharp and response times low.

Short Term Success

So far, we have been able to establish temporary emergency shelters for road closures when requested by Public Safety.

Our canteen has been called out for disasters such as fires,bomb scares, missing hikers, search and rescue operations, feeding snad baggers during spring floods, and a shooting. We are able to meet the needs of public safety workers.

Monitor Progress

The Vail Valley Salvation Army has been able to respond to every request since we have had it. This even includes a request in 2008 by the Pitkin County Red Cross to support law enforcement's response to a New Years Eve bombing incident in Aspen.

Evidence of Success

In 2006 the Vail Valley Salvation Army began an effort to raise enough money to acquire a mobile canteen to provide disaster services. The vehicle was to be able to feed evacuees from major disaster and provide support for fire, police and EMS units responding to more typical localized events.

The Rocky Mountain Intermountain Divison of the Salvation Army agreed to match funds raised in the Vail Valley with an estimated cost of the vehicle around $120,000.00. As usual, the public safety community stepped up to the plate and quickly raised the Valley's share. These groups included: Avon Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Eagle County, Eagle County Ambulance District, Eagle County Sheriff's Department, Eagle River Fire Protection District, Greater Eagle Fire Protection District, Town of Eagle, Vail Fire Department, Vail Mountain Rescue Group, Vail Police Department, Vail Resorts, Vail Valley Cares, Vail Valley Medical Center, and the Western Eagle County Ambulance District.

THe vehicle was delivered in late 2007 amd at the time was the only four-wheel drive canteen in the nation. It is stocked with about 500 meals on board along with enough water, gasoline and propane to remain self-sufficient for 24 hours. Weighing in at 6 tons, it can still travel to any place a wild land fire engine can go.

Beneficiaries
General Public/Unspecified
Disabled, General or Disability Unspecified

Long Term Success
Being able to accommodate everyone who requires a loan of Durable Medical Equipment.


Short Term Success
Whenever there is a request to assist someone with durable medical equipment, one of our volunteers is able to immediately respond and provide what they need.

Monitor Progress
The numbers of individuals assisted has skyrocketed. In 2005 there were 4 peopple served with 6 items loaned. 2006 brought 24 clients to whom we loaned 29 items. 2007 there were 49 clients, with 66 items. 2008 had 103 clients assisted, with 163 items. 2009 (until Ocotber 1, only 3/4 year) there have been 207 clients who borrowed 289 pieces of equipment.

Evidence of Success

Not only have more people accessed this service, but we regularly recieve thank you notes, and sometimes even a donation to thank us.

YEAR ROUND PROGRAMS

Food Pantry
Our year-round food pantry provides food and nutrition to low-income families.

Emergency Assistance Program
This program offers emergency financial assistance to individuals at risk of losing housing or utility providers. In addition, Salvation Army helps with medical, dental and prescription needs, school supplies, clothing and household necessities. Our crisis line operates 24/7 year round.

Emergency Transportation
We provide assistance in the form of gasoline vouchers, hotel accommodations, auto repair, food and bus tickets to stranded motorists. This program works closely with local law enforcement agencies.

Emergency Shelters
Shelters are provided for road closures and emergency situations.

Durable Medical Equipment Lending Program
Vail Valley Salvation Army has a Durable Medical Equipment lending program. Individuals, regardless of income, can borrow wheelchairs, toilet risers, walkers, etc. at no charge. This program is in partnership with Vail Valley Medical Center's Volunteer Corps.

Eagle County Smiles Dental Van
Eagle County Smiles is another Community Partnership initiative that Vail Valley Salvation Army helped to initiate. Tooth decay is the most chronic disease affecting children, and although it is nearly 100 percent preventable, one in four Eagle County third graders has untreated decay. The Eagle County Smiles task force, along with University of Colorado School of Dentistry provided free screens for 192 un-insured and under insured children. They also provided treatment through a dental van for children at greatest risk. Early Screens and treatment are essential to maintaining a healthy smile.

Be a Volunteer, Sign Up!

Tags: