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Celebrating 150 years of The Salvation Army

2 July 2015

This July The Salvation Army celebrates 150 years of helping people in need around the world.

Salvation Army members from all around the world will celebrate this event from 1 – 5 July at a conference back where it all started – London, England.

Founded by William and Catherine Booth, The Salvation Army began in East London on July 2 1865 to bring hope, care and salvation to the poor, the homeless, the hungry, and the destitute in London’s East End.

150 years later, The Salvation Army remains just as dedicated to meeting human needs without discrimination – but now in 126 countries worldwide.

The Salvation Army in Australia was born in a uniquely Aussie form. It was in the open air under a gum tree in a park when Edward Saunders and John Gore (a tradie and a railway worker) offered meals on the back of a cart in Adelaide’s Botanical Gardens in 1880. “If there’s a man who hasn’t had a square meal today, let him come to tea with me,” they said.

Today, 135 years later, The Salvation Army in Australia operates over 1,000 social programs and services across the country. We assist more than one million Australians in need each year – that’s one person every 30 seconds.

You’ll find us in the small country towns and in the big cities. We understand life’s experiences can leave people in need of a helping hand or long-term assistance and we seek to empower people to get back on their feet and live life to the fullest.

In Australia we work across a diverse range of social issues. Our key areas of service include homelessness, family and domestic violence, addiction and recovery, youth services and support and material aid to individuals and families in crisis. 

To find out more:

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The Salvation Army Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and work and pay our respect to Elders past, present and future.

We value and include people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and intersex status. We are committed to providing programs that are fully inclusive. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of people of all ages, particularly children.

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The Salvation Army is an international movement. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name with love and without discrimination.

salvationarmy.org.au

13 SALVOS (13 72 58)

Gifts of $2 or more to the social work of The Salvation Army in Australia are tax deductible.Details and ABNs

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