A $150,000 donation by United Supermarkets assists the Salvation Army’s transitional housing program.
Matt Bumstead (left), co-president of United Supermarkets LLC, offers a handshake to Captain Mike Morton, Corps Officer for The Salvation Army of Lubbock, following the company’s pledge of a $150,000 gift to help fund the Army’s Red Shield Home Transitional Living Program. Looking on is United Supermarkets CEO Robert Taylor, a former member of The Salvation Army board.
Lubbock, Texas-based United Supermarkets has pledged $150,000 over the next three years in support of The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Home Transitional Living Program, a three-tiered approach to eradicating homeless that includes Emergency Shelter, Transitional Shelter and Transitional Housing programs.
The United pledge represents a lead gift of $50,000 each of the next three years to fund the renovations of the Red Shield Home’s Transitional Housing Program at 1614 Avenue K, located across the street from The Salvation Army’s main campus in what is currently known as Walker House.
The property includes four buildings that will serve as independent living apartments for families in the program, with each building serving two families at any given time. Plans call for the renovation of one building per year over the next four years and include roof repairs, wall restoration, kitchen/bathroom renovations, central heating/air conditioning and new flooring.
Renovations are expected to begin in late summer, with occupancy planned by April 2012.
“The Salvation Army has been serving the Lubbock area since the early 1920s and has been an integral part of our community’s efforts to meet the needs of our homeless population throughout that time,” said Robert Taylor, CEO of United Supermarkets LLC, and a former member of The Salvation Army board. “Our company is honored to be able to serve as a partner alongside them to help address this growing community concern.”
“Throughout our company’s 95-year history, one of the greatest privileges we have enjoyed is the ability to give back to the communities we serve,” said Matt Bumstead, co-president of United Supermarkets LLC and great-grand
son of the company’s founder. The family-owned grocery chain operates stores in 30 markets across north and west Texas. “It is the ongoing support of the thousands of guests who shop our stores every week that makes it possible for us, in turn, to help provide for one of our community’s most urgent human needs,” he added.
The Salvation Army’s five-year plan calls for expansion of the current emergency shelter program to include a “transitional shelter” component, which will provide three to six families with up to 90 days of services aimed at helping them attain independent living.
The last step – the Red Shield Home Transitional Housing Program, which the United gift supports – will provide housing and support services to help individuals rise above poverty and to eliminate the constant threat of homelessness. The home will serve six to nine families, and recipients may receive services for up to two years.
Goals of the program include increased skills, education and income; increase life skills such as budgeting, parenting, social skills and emotional stability; and residential stability.
The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Home Transitional Living Program will introduce a new approach to breaking the cycle of homelessness for individuals and families in the Lubbock community,” said Captain Mike Morton, Corps Officer for The Salvation Army of Lubbock. “We are incredibly grateful for the support of United Supermarkets and the Lubbock community.”
