Things are warming up in the Oak Park area. The Salvation Army officially opened the “Hot Spot” drop-in center at its Ray Robinson Oak Park Community Center on February 1. Every Friday night, from 7 to 11 pm, the “Hot Spot” will provide teens, ages 13-19, an opportunity to utilize the multiple activities—like basketball, board games, art projects, video games and a computer lab—at the community center. Snacks are also given to the teenage attendees. “People can come down and play instead of being on the streets,” said Oshe, a 17-year-old high school student who came to the opening night of the drop-in center to play basketball. “You always hear about kids getting shot, but this is a plac

The Salvation Army in Sacramento received nearly 600 pounds of frozen turkeys from California State Automobile Association of Northern California. This marks the 16th consecutive year in which The Salvation Army has received turkeys from AAA. Last year, the donation helped nearly 500 individuals receive a Thanksgiving meal. The donated turkeys will be prepared and served for a free Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, November 22 at The Army’s Center of Hope emergency shelter in downtown Sacramento (1200 North B Street). Anyone from the Sacramento community can be served a meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day. AAA’s annual turkey delivery project is part of an ongoing effort to help meet th

More than 200 volunteers from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and The Salvation Army, organizers from KaBOOM! and residents of the local community joined forces on October 6, to build a new playground at The Salvation Army E. Claire Raley Transitional Living Center in Sacramento. The new playground’s design is based on drawings created by children throughout the community who participated in a Design Day event in August. “This is an incredible playground for the children in this program,” said Major Ray Yant, Salvation Army Sacramento County Coordinator. “I’m thankful that so many came out on their own free time to volunteer and make this playground a reality.” The Transitional L

“I have a swing, a slide and a swimming pool.” That’s how nine-year-old Leila described her dream playground. She was one of a dozen kids from The Salvation Army’s E. Claire Raley Transitional Living Center who participated in a “Design Day” on August 7. The event, hosted by PG&E, The Salvation Army-Sacramento and organizers from KaBOOM!, allowed the children to draw their ultimate dream playground. Elements from the drawings will be incorporated into the final design for a new playground to be built by volunteers on October 6 at the Transitional Living Center. “We like to say that the kids are the play experts,” said Katrina Hill, KaBOOM! associate project manager. “They are the ones p

“I feel like I want to jump up!” Third grader Tre’ John is still amazed to know that he has become a published author. He is one of 22 students from Capitol Heights Academy who had his/her stories published in a book entitled “Monsters and Mayhem”. “I’m just happy,” Tre’ John said during an official book release ceremony on May 29. The book release came after an eight-week workshop, led by 916 Ink and The Salvation Army. The two-month session was a program created by 916 Ink, a volunteer organization promoting literacy by empowering youth in the Sacramento region to engage in the literary arts. “It’s been a lot of work to make this day a reality,” said Katie McCleary, 916 Ink executive