The Salvation Army's Impact on Greater New York in 2023-2024

Youth Programs

Star Lake Camp

In 2023, we proudly celebrated 100 years of Star Lake Camp. Purchased by The Salvation Army in 1923 from Catherine Kampfe, Star Lake Camp stands as a testament to our unwavering dedication to serving New Yorkers. Since its inception, Star Lake has hosted tens of thousands of seniors and children from diverse backgrounds across Greater New York.

Star Lake Camp offers a robust variation of activities for all ages from young to old. This includes arts and crafts, fishing, swimming, paddle boating, hiking, nature walks, and more. Camp is not only a way for children to relax, but it also provides numerous benefits like improved academic performance, increased independence, and building lasting connections. To learn more about the importance of camp in a child’s development, you can read our depth article on the topic.

During the summers of 2023 and 2024, The Salvation Army welcomed 1,153 campers to Star Lake Camp and provided 6,030 days of camp. As the benefits of camp, our determination to provide the best possible camp experience for youth and our dedication to help underserved communities become more well known, we hope to see number of enrollments grow as the years progress.

Child Care

Childcare in New York is prohibitively expensive. As the Citizens’ Committee for Children points out, 80% of New Yorkers are unable to afford childcare, which can range from $14,000 to $20,000 per year for a single child. The data is staggering for a service that is as crucial as shaping a better and brighter future for children.

The situation is exacerbated by the high cost of living in New York, rising inflation, and reduced government subsidies since the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenge of inaccessible childcare creates a significant financial burden for many low-income families.

The Salvation Army of Greater New York is committed to alleviating this burden by operating five licensed childcare centers around the city and offering our services for free to anyone who meets our criteria. Each family’s financial situation is assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure our programs are both accessible and tailored to a child’s specific needs.

All our childcare center teachers are qualified, licensed professionals who have years of experience working with children. We make them undergo an in-depth vetting process to ensure that their qualifications and values align with The Salvation Army’s goals and mission. In addition to serving two nutritious meals per day, our programs offer a variety of educational activities such as arts and crafts, music lessons, and outdoor recess. Families who do not have access to affordable childcare rely on our services during this critical period in their children’s lives to get them up to speed with their more privileged peers.

In 2023, 127 children were enrolled in our childcare programs. At the time of writing, we are proud to report that 108 children have already been enrolled this year. As the summer ends and the school year begins, we expect this number to surpass our 2023 enrollments.

To learn more about our childcare programs or to enroll your child at one of our locations, visit our website.

After-school Programs

Similar to childcare programs, after-school programs can pose a financial challenge for many families, costing between $8,000 and $15,000 per year for just one child. Due to these high costs, many families opt out of after-school programs, potentially hindering a child’s psychological, physiological, and social growth.

The benefits of after-school programs are undeniable. Extracurricular activities or sports teach children how to build strong relationships with their peers and mentors, develop healthy coping strategies, set and achieve goals, and gain a broader perspective of the world. Our after-school programs include free music lessons, academic enrichment (GAINS), arts and crafts, dance, and other, enriching extracurricular activities.

GAINS Program

The Growth Accountability Initiative Networking Support (GAINS) is our flagship after-school program. Established in 1991 through a partnership with the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), GAINS was created to provide academic enrichment for children from underserved communities. The program supports students facing various challenges, including poverty, homelessness, and unstable home environments.

GAINS helps students achieve grade-level proficiency by offering a structured environment for academic advancement, engaging activities, and valuable connections with mentors and peers. In 2023, 446 students aged 6 to 18 benefited from the program.

Here are some highlights from our after-school programs in 2023 and 2024:

• Music program: The Salvation Army of Greater New York provided 34,107 music lessons in 2023. We have provided 21,566 music lessons so far in 2024 and project that this number will surpass our figure from 2023.
• GAINS: The Salvation Army of Greater New York instructed 64,418 students in our GAINS program from 2023 to 2024.
• After-school programs: From 2023 to 2024 we enrolled 76,325 students in our after-school programs

The Echelon

The Echelon is a dynamic group of young professionals who make up The Salvation Army’s junior board. They are passionately committed to the organization’s mission through innovative fundraising and volunteer activities. Echelon’s goal is to inspire New York’s youth by providing them with firsthand experiences in addressing the biggest issues our communities face today. They strive to promote awareness, take hands-on approaches to address these issues, and equip the next generation with the tools and knowledge needed to tackle future challenges. Some of Echelon’s notable achievements in 2023 include:

• Hosting eight new events and welcoming eight new members to the Echelon core team.
• Tripling fundraising efforts compared to 2022.
• The “Red Kettle Takeover” campaign at Rockefeller Center during Christmas, which had the highest volunteer turnout with ten bellringers spreading holiday cheer.
• Gaining 65 new followers on Instagram and 35 on LinkedIn. As of now, they have 102 followers on Instagram and 53 on LinkedIn—a 36% and 27% increase since January, respectively.

These are just a few of The Echelon’s accomplishments. To read more about their achievements, check out The Echelon’s first 2024 update.

Homelessness

Since COVID-19 we have seen a significant rise in the number of people affected by homelessness. In a location as densely populated as New York City, we have been bearing witness to this epidemic in recent years.

Don’t Walk By, a homeless outreach event started by Rescue Alliance in 2008, addresses rising homelessness in New York City. As a major participant in this event, The Salvation Army of Greater New York dispatches outreach teams consisting of emergency service experts who engage with and provide resources to our unhoused neighbors. The goal is to help them with whatever they need and get them off the streets.

Our teams make themselves approachable, providing resources ranging from warm meals and essential services to emergency service kits and even overnight accommodation. We are honored to support and participate in Rescue Alliance’s work every year.

Pathway of Hope

Families from minority groups or underrepresented communities have historically faced greater challenges in achieving upward social mobility. These challenges—social, psychological, financial, and physical—are obstacles that these individuals must overcome to level the playing field with their more privileged peers.

However, many find themselves at a disadvantage, unable to face these challenges without access to the right guidance and tools. As a result, these challenges are passed down from generation to generation, creating a cycle of intergenerational poverty.

The Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope program aims to break this cycle by helping motivated families who are committed to change and willing to undergo our five-step process. Those who follow our long-term approach will be supported by strength-based case managers, community resources, and pastoral care. In 2023, within less than a year of its inception, the Pathway of Hope program enrolled 33 families, making a positive step toward transformative change. We have made significant strides in 2024 and will continue to do so throughout the year. Our achievements were made possible thanks to the contributions of donors like you. The Salvation Army of Greater New York thanks you for your generosity and looks forward to continuing to serve New Yorkers.

To read more about our achievements this year, check out our 2023-2024 Annual Report.