City's Salvation Army relocates to church

HURON — A move to Main Street marks a new chapter for a local organization long committed to serving Huron residents in need. The Salvation Army's Huron unit recently moved its office from Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) to Zion Lutheran Church, 930 Main St. Now with a more centered location, this brings the organization closer to the heart of the community and offers improved facilities for serving local residents in need, said Roxanne Goss, the local unit's volunteer director. Zion Lutheran Church "generously stepped in" to offer room for the Salvation Army's operations, Goss said, after having to leave the previous location to make room for the Faith Church. "We're incredibly grateful to Zion Lutheran for welcoming us," Goss said. "The new location is more central, which makes it easier for people to find us. Plus the portico has been a huge help during distributions, especially in bad weather." In addition to those benefits, members also have access to more space and can separate their office and storage. The Huron unit serves residents within the 44839 ZIP code, offering assistance with food, clothing, utilities and rent. "With rising housing costs, we're seeing more families in need," Goss said. "We sometimes will partner with the St. Vincent DePaul program to help cover the larger expenses." Programs, community support As the holiday season approaches, the Huron unit is also preparing for its annual Angel Tree program. For more than 40 years, The Salvation Army and Walmart have worked together to meet human needs during the holiday season, according to The Salvation Army's website. Shoppers can: • Pick a tag from the Angel Tree inside any Walmart • Shop online through Walmart's Spark Good Registry Each tag represents a child in need, and donors can fulfill their Christmas wish lists with new clothing and toys. Once received, the Salvation Army distributes the gifts to families in time for Christmas morning. "Applicants are required to show proof of residency and need, then list out the age of their children and what they want," Goss said. "We're always looking for volunteers to help with this program to distribute the items." The unit is also gearing up for its Red Kettle campaign, a vital fundraising effort that supports local services. "We're always looking for volunteers to ring the bell," Goss said. "Cornell's (Foods, 408 Cleveland Road E.) and Huron Market (525 Cleveland Rd W.) have been great about letting us set up outside. Every dollar stays right here in Huron." And the organization continues to connect with community members. This would include, for the first time, members participating in the Huron River Fest's parade, passing out candy. People can visit salvationarmyusa.org or the local unit's Facebook page, facebook.com/tsahuronsu, for more information, including how to donate or volunteer.