NURTURING CHILDREN
The Salvation Army is an International, Evangelical Christian Church dedicated to providing individuals worldwide with spiritual, physical, social and emotional support. Our organization is made up of thousands of officers, soldiers, adherents employees, volunteers and other individuals all working together to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people, as well as struggling to meet the physical needs of those less fortunate.
The Metropolitan Division is the administrative unit which provides services in the Chicagoland, Northern Illinois and Northwestern Indiana area. Our headquarters is located in Chicago, at 5040 N. Pulaski Road, and we provide a variety of services at numerous locations throughout our administrative area.
By serving the needs of children today, The Salvation Army prepares them for a better future. Through programs such as Head Start, tutoring, daycare, before-and after- school programs, and computer training, opportunities for educational success are enhanced — and so too is the potential for a better life for so many at-risk children and communities.
Last year, Salvation Army child care programs for low-income families provided 31,472 days of care at our nine Chicago Head Start sites. Medical and dental screenings were provided for more that 500 children and daily meals provided them with one-third of their daily nutritional needs.
Character building and recreational activities help to round out the whole child, while music and art programs offer avenues for cognitive growth and development. The Salvation Army is one of Chicago's largest providers of music instruction…and these programs are among our most popular. Last year, The Salvation Army brought the gift of music through more than 2600 class sessions with a total attendance of more than 28,000 students and young adults.
Our programs for children continue to be highly effective — strengthening bodies, providing safe havens from the streets and offering the educational and program support to help secure a brighter future.