Salvation Army

The Salvation Army provided holiday cheer for hundreds of low-income families. The Adopt a Family project provided gifts for 64 families and 176 children, which the board of directors estimated was a value of $18,400. The Angel Tree collected gifts for 104 families and 228 kids, at an estimated value of $5,700. Toys for Joy helped 242 families, and 475 kids, and the estimated value is $9,500. The Adopt a Senior project served 50 individuals, with a total of $1,000 in gifts. About 115 gifts went to individuals in rest homes.

The Salvation Army of Glendale offers child care for children of homeless families who are ages 5 to 16 at 320 W. Windsor Road, Glendale. Child care is offered from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday during the school year. Pick-up is provided for eligible students within Glendale Unified Schools. Call Youth Director Julyne Sales at (818) 246-5586, Ext. 141.

Dozens of Aramark Corp. employees on Thursday worked over the Salvation Army Glendale's food pantry facility and created a new physical fitness area for youth and adults, organizers said. Aramark created a doorway pass-through at the food pantry to allow for faster food delivery, and the new gym area at the Windsor Road location as part of the company's long-running relationship with the Salvation Army of Southern California. Last year, Aramark created an area at the Santa Ana Salvation Army facility to enhance job- and career-readiness programs there, according to the company.

The familiar bells began ringing outside local businesses on Friday as the Salvation Army in Glendale launched its annual holiday fundraising campaign to help the needy, but this year's effort could prove more challenging because due to the loss of some store locations. The Albertson's market on South Central Avenue, which closed last month, was a regular spot for bell ringers for several years, said Capt. Rio Ray, who heads up the local chapter of the Salvation Army. There will be 15 red kettles out in the field this year, he added.

Dozens of people lined up outside a San Fernando Road building Thursday morning as a familiar face returned to the Glendale retail scene. The Salvation Army opened a new thrift store in south Glendale, about two years after closing a Brand Boulevard shop. The new store breathes life into a site abandoned by Smart & Final warehouse stores when that chain opened a store on Glenoaks Boulevard. Opening day brought Glendale Chamber of Commerce ambassadors, shoppers and treasure hunters to the Salvation Army at 6850 San Fernando Road.

Generosity and cooperation teamed up to help needy kids buy new clothes, shoes and supplies in Glendale Tuesday morning. The sales spree was a result of a partnership between Target and the Salvation Army in which the national retailer provides $1 million in gift cards to 12,000 children. Volunteers took the children shopping to help them obtain what they needed. Each participant was given an $80 gift card to spend in one hour at the Glendale Galleria. On Tuesday, 31 kids, aged 5 to 16, shopped with firefighters and members of Kiwanis, Rotary and L'Oreal clubs.

Alex Coolman TROPICO -- About 700 Glendale families will get a little holiday cheer today as the Salvation Army distributes food and gifts donated by members of the community. The group gathered the donations through its "angel tree" program, which saw a Christmas tree at the Galleria decorated with dozens of paper angels. Each angel represented a request from a needy Glendale family, said Maj. Floyd Bacon of the Salvation Army. Residents donated to families by picking the decorations from the tree and buying goods requested on a form included with each angel.

Claudia Peschiutta GLENDALE -- You would think fighting a 524-acre brush fire was enough of a Christmas present for local residents. Members of the Glendale Firemans' Club plan to make a $1,700 donation to the Salvation Army, Glendale Corps later this week, said Glendale Fire Capt. John Wray Monday. The plan was to do so on Christmas Day but the donation was postponed because of the San Rafael Hills fire, he said. The club makes an annual donation of about $500 to the Salvation Army, but this year's check is bigger because the group's membership has increased, Wray said.

Fred Ortega Following a barrage of community criticism, the Salvation Army announced Monday that it would temporarily halt its two-week-old practice of requiring identification cards from patrons of its Lord's Kitchen. The group began the policy of requiring identification from people seeking food at the kitchen, which serves the homeless and needy, on June 6. The Lord's Kitchen is operated out of the Salvation Army's social services building on Central Avenue.

Glendale firefighters successfully defended their basketball championship title on Sunday, outscoring police 58-33. A three-point shot from the Glendale Fire Department at the buzzer ended the third annual Hoop Heroes Basketball Championship Game at Glendale High School, officials said. PHOTOS: Glendale Fire vs. Police charity basketball game The event also raised more than $5,000 for the Salvation Army's Zone Academy, according to event chairman Rick Dinger. The after-school program provides tutoring and improves literacy for students ages 8 to 14. More than 200 pounds of canned goods were also donated to the Salvation Army during the basketball game.

The Hoop Heroes Basketball Championship Game has played a major part in helping youngsters in the Salvation Army's Zone Academy improve their literacy. This annual event raises funds for the academy, which provides homework tutoring for youths ages 8 to 13. Included in the program is a Diagnostic Online Reading Assessment component that helps youngsters work on improving their literacy. The program was so successful during the first quarter of 2011 that 70% of the youths in the program went up a grade level in their literacy, said Hoop Heroes Chairman Rick Dinger.

The Salvation Army provided holiday cheer for hundreds of low-income families. The Adopt a Family project provided gifts for 64 families and 176 children, which the board of directors estimated was a value of $18,400. The Angel Tree collected gifts for 104 families and 228 kids, at an estimated value of $5,700. Toys for Joy helped 242 families, and 475 kids, and the estimated value is $9,500. The Adopt a Senior project served 50 individuals, with a total of $1,000 in gifts. About 115 gifts went to individuals in rest homes.

Blanca and Ofelia giggled with their children on Thursday as they enjoyed a plate with the usual Thanksgiving fixings at the Salvation Army Glendale. The pair share an unfortunate bond: They are both victims of domestic violence and reside in a protective shelter. But despite their challenges, Blanca, 37, and Ofelia, 47, said they felt grateful for the help they have received from the nonprofit organization, especially the Thanksgiving dinner. “This is great help for us because of the situation we are in right now,” Ofelia said.

The familiar bells began ringing outside local businesses on Friday as the Salvation Army in Glendale launched its annual holiday fundraising campaign to help the needy, but this year's effort could prove more challenging because due to the loss of some store locations. The Albertson's market on South Central Avenue, which closed last month, was a regular spot for bell ringers for several years, said Capt. Rio Ray, who heads up the local chapter of the Salvation Army. There will be 15 red kettles out in the field this year, he added.

Dozens of Aramark Corp. employees on Thursday worked over the Salvation Army Glendale's food pantry facility and created a new physical fitness area for youth and adults, organizers said. Aramark created a doorway pass-through at the food pantry to allow for faster food delivery, and the new gym area at the Windsor Road location as part of the company's long-running relationship with the Salvation Army of Southern California. Last year, Aramark created an area at the Santa Ana Salvation Army facility to enhance job- and career-readiness programs there, according to the company.

A Salvation Army employee suffered moderate injuries Saturday after a woman drove through the front of a donation store while trying to park, police said. The employee was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, officials said. Police said two other people were injured in the crash, but declined to be taken to a hospital. “We are very fortunate that the injuries weren't much worse,” Police Lt. Steve Robertson said. The motorist, whose name wasn't released, was pulling into a handicap parking spot when she accidently accelerated instead of stepping on the brake.

Generosity and cooperation teamed up to help needy kids buy new clothes, shoes and supplies in Glendale Tuesday morning. The sales spree was a result of a partnership between Target and the Salvation Army in which the national retailer provides $1 million in gift cards to 12,000 children. Volunteers took the children shopping to help them obtain what they needed. Each participant was given an $80 gift card to spend in one hour at the Glendale Galleria. On Tuesday, 31 kids, aged 5 to 16, shopped with firefighters and members of Kiwanis, Rotary and L'Oreal clubs.

Hundreds of people packed the stands Sunday to watch Glendale firefighters successfully defend their title against their police counterparts during the second annual Hoop Heroes basketball charity game. Although the police had practiced their game for months, they lost to firefighters, 51-37, at Glendale High School. Nearly 600 people packed the bleachers for the game, which raised $5,000 for Zone Academy, the Salvation Army's after-school program for at-risk youth. The audience was also asked to donate canned food items as part of the game's admission, resulting in an estimated 1,000 pounds of canned goods for the Salvation Army's pantry, organizers said.

Gary Bruce Barnes   Gary Bruce Barnes passed away December 28, 2011, in Los Angeles, CA, at the age of 54.  Gary had been recently discharged from USC Medical Center where, for the previous 3 months, he had fought a very hard, life threatening battle against a MRSA infection in his lungs.  He passed quietly and peacefully at the physical rehab to which he had been discharged.  His heart, his body, just gave out.   Gary was...