Adult Rehabilitation Centers Introduce A New Phase Of Family Stores
For over 125 years The Salvation Army has pioneered at the forefront of its mission to serve suffering humanity, a program of substance abuse rehabilitation. Known as the Adult Rehabilitation Centers Command, this nationwide ministry is situated in almost every major city in the United States and in other parts of the world. Last year over 37,600 men were treated for substance abuse symptoms with a 28% success rate, that rate based on the completion of the intensive six month long program of each rehabilitation center. That is a felicitous rate, compared with many rehabilitation and recovery programs. Beyond this, we see that over 30% of the men return to try again. Some men have entered the program over a half dozen times until they gain the success and strength they need to go forward. We are the Army of the second chance, the third chance, the fourth chance...etc. We are disinclined to give up on a man whose intentions are to gain victory. We ourselves have a working experience with the grace of God.
You, the American public actively support this program with donations of your good, but no longer needed, household goods, vehicles, boats and campers which are sold through our family stores and auctions.
It is natural in terms of marketing, that The Salvation Army should look towards trends in retailing. This is in order to increase the income base of each store, and therefore provide greater effectiveness in the services offered to our fellow citizens who have fallen on bad times. One of the most effective changes is to rename our traditional "Thrift Store" by calling it a "Family Store." Why? Because research has proved that those who donate their household goods to the Salvation Army are also the most popular shoppers at our Family Stores! "On my income, buying used clothing from the Salvation Army Family Store means my paycheck lasts longer" says one shopper. "We feel that we are doubling our donation, by first having our sofa and chairs picked up from the house, and then making regular visits to browse the shelves at our local Family Store for that rare or interesting book, or recording" says another.
Major Larry White, The Salvation Army's Commander for the Adult Rehabilitation Centers says"It has become necessary to place these new Family Stores in areas of the city where our donors live. That way we are satisfying their needs." He goes on to name a brand new store in Birmingham, Alabama which is part of a retail park, alongside some of the nations largest retail chains, and another in Tulsa, Oklahoma where public acceptance of the new name and appearance has skyrocketed, and revenue for use in the program dramatically increased.
The Salvation Army has one of the highest records of putting money to good use. For every dollar donated (in cash, stock, property or goods in kind) The Salvation Army is able to invest 83% directly into programs that last year assisted over 33 million Americans across the nation.