DECEMBER 20, 2024 |
Photo – The Salvation Army logo – Courtesy The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has officially ceased operations in Rawlins.
Earlier this month, Bigfoot99 reported that some Rawlins residents were concerned about the lack of Christmas bell ringers collecting donations outside of local stores.
In the past, The Salvation Army and WYO Help, a Wyoming specific charity organization, teamed up to collect donations during the holiday season. However, WYO Help Executive Director Kyle Borger told Bigfoot99 that the two charities have parted ways. Borger blamed the separation on The Salvation Army taking too long, sometimes up to two full months, to pay vendors.
Bigfoot99 reached out to The Salvation Army for a response to Borger’s comments. The Salvation Army’s Intermountain Division Executive Director of Emergency Disaster Services Ian Anderson responded with a written statement acknowledging that his organization and WYO Help have parted way after years of helping the people of Carbon County together.
Anderson continued, writing that in 2024, The Salvation Army’s Divisional Headquarters Finance Department was understaffed, resulting in many assistance checks going out “very late.” Delayed payments upset many clients and local vendors that work with The Salvation Army.
Anderson wrote that the vendors were directing their frustrations toward WYO Help, which resulted in the organization ending its long-standing partnership with The Salvation Army. Anderson reported that the Finance Department has fixed the issues that were causing the late payments and hired a new employee specifically to support Salvation Army units across southern Wyoming.
Unfortunately, the damage has been done and The Salvation Army has ceased operations in Rawlins. Anderson said the organization will freeze all collected funds until another community member volunteers to take over.
Anderson is asking anyone interested in leading operations in Rawlins to reach out to The Salvation Army’s Intermountain Division by calling (303)860-5492. Additionally, Anderson said The Salvation Army is still able to help Carbon County residents using its remaining funds.
The Intermountain Division Executive Director recommended calling the Divisional Connection Center at (307)225-9505 to see what services The Salvation Army is able to offer.
Because they don’t have an active unit in Rawlins, the Salvation Army is not fundraising this holiday season.
Anderson wrote that The Salvation Army is able to offer some services to Carbon County motorists thanks to its partnership with Wyoming Highway Patrol.
In his written statement, Anderson thanked WYO Help for their services over the years and said he hopes to reestablish the Rawlins unit in the coming year.
Meanwhile, WYO Help is now solely responsible for collecting donations in Rawlins. The charity organization is asking for volunteer bell ringers to staff its donation station inside Tractor Supply, located at 2201 Plaza Street.
If you would like to raise money for WYO Help, visit www.wyohelp.com and click on the Holiday Donation Station tab to select a date and time to collect holiday donations in Rawlins.
