Salvation Army Lt. Mylie Hadden says the agency is getting sought out repeatedly these days as the COVID-19 pandemic wears on.
As Hadden gets acclimated to Emporia, she’s noticing two main areas of urgent need.
Hadden says the payment requests are such that the local Salvation Army can’t fully offset the numbers coming in. On the flip side, the food pantry has reopened — which is a benefit for clients, who can now pick and choose what they want rather than getting a pre-determined set of groceries. Right now, the big need for the food pantry is jelly.
Hadden came to Emporia a month ago after leading the Pittsburg Salvation Army for four years. She started with the Salvation Army as a volunteer in Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina and became an officer during time in Kansas City. She’s looking forward to meeting with other non-profit leaders and work together to meet community needs.
Hadden says operations in Emporia and Pittsburg are set up differently because Pittsburg has all its services, including the thrift store, in one location. And as she gets started, Hadden is serving two separate roles — director and emergency assistance case manager. That second position needs a bachelor’s degree as a minimum because it also handles the Pathway of Hope program.
Residents wanting more information about the Emporia Salvation Army and its services can call 620-342-3093.
