Why Now?
The Salvation Army of Wake County has served our community from the same, humble downtown Raleigh location on Person Street since 1950. As the area grew up around us with gleaming high-rises and renovated spaces, we have grown as well — just not in our physical surroundings.
To us, successful growth has never been about bigger and brighter offices, prime locations or contemporary furnishings to reflect our achievements. Rather, our success over the past 60 years is reflected in the faces of those whom we serve. The mother and children finding refuge from abuse. The homeless man passing through our doors to receive a meal, but leaving satisfied in body and soul because he has also received Jesus Christ. Our achievements burn brightly as a family finds counsel to stay together, as an addict becomes clean, as one without hope finds peace in salvation.
Our building has not changed much since 1950. But we have been able to miraculously expand our services and programs through the ongoing generosity of our community and our reliance upon the Lord. When we first opened our Person Street doors in 1950, we were assisting about 20,000 people a year… in 2008, we impacted the lives of over 120,000 individuals seeking help. However, this space — this constant — that has been the foundation for life-changing victories is now limiting the impact we can make. We are turning away women and children seeking shelter. To others we must say, “There’s not enough — try back another day.” And to us, this is failure. When people walk away from our building without their needs being met, it is truly heartbreaking to us. The needy of Wake County come to us for hope… and they must be able to find it here.
With the Center of Hope, we can shelter more women and children, we can feed more of the hungry, we can restore more lives… we can provide more hope.