Behind the Red Shield tour gives public inside look at Salvation Army

He talks so fast, the brain has a hard time keeping up. Then again, he has a good deal to say in just one hour.

Phillip Hollon is director of social services for The Salvation Army’s 6-acre Social Services Campus, 35 W. Owens Ave. He’s part of the new team at the site working under Maj. Kelly Pontsler, Clark County commander.

Once a month, or more often if asked, Hollon and colleagues Juan Salinas, homeless services coordinator, and Becky Watson, public relations coordinator, conduct free Behind the Red Shield tours of The Salvation Army site. Hollon’s booming voice and enthusiasm for his subject leave just a few quiet side notes for colleagues. Watson said the next scheduled tour is May 19.

The Salvation Army’s Social Services Campus is in a part of town known as the Corridor of Hope. However, a drive through the Las Vegas Boulevard North/Owens Avenue/Foremaster Lane area seems to indicate it’s a misnomer. Sidewalks are lined with homeless individuals and families. Some are waiting to access free or low-cost meals available in the area, while others are service-resistant and simply wait for the occasional do-gooders who drive to the area and freely distribute food or bring free services to the homeless.

“We love the big hearts of people in Las Vegas,” said Hollon, “but we at The Salvation Army can’t help individuals who don’t come into our facility or who won’t respond when we meet them on the street and invite them in. When cars stop on the street to distribute food, and the crowds come around, the situation is actually dangerous and disrupts traffic. We much prefer people bring their food or their services inside our campus.”

The Salvation Army reaches many of the city’s homeless, however.

“We serve four meals a day here,” Hollon added. “The 1:30 p.m. is free; the other meals are for residents or have a small charge. Our meal times are staggered so they don’t conflict with other meal programs in the area.”

The Salvation Army also offers free emergency overnight shelter beds where clients are provided linens, a hygiene kit and the ability to do laundry.

“Each individual who comes to us must have a card on file, so we do find out something about the people we serve and hopefully can direct them to other services,” Salinas said.

Separate facilities are provided for veterans and for individuals who need privacy away from the larger group. “In Las Vegas, no veteran needs to be homeless,” Hollon added.

Among the transitional living arrangements available through the local Salvation Army, individuals with a small income who have problems with homelessness now have an apartment option on the Social Services Campus. They can stay in a newly renovated compact studio apartment with kitchen facilities for up to one year while waiting for other living accommodations. Their rent is 30 percent of their income.

Hollon emphasized, “We aren’t in the transaction business (just providing meals, shelter, etc.); we’re in the transition business (moving clients to a better life).”

That transition comment makes an immediate impact when sous chef Jeremy, whose last name was withheld, meets the tour group and tells of being part of The Salvation Army/College of Southern Nevada Culinary Arts Program. Jeremy was homeless for three years before finding The Salvation Army and its program. He was ultimately hired, but other graduates have gone on to work in a number of local restaurants and casino-hotels. The program recently graduated its 40th class. Other kinds of training classes are available as well.

As the new team began jelling under Pontsler and as renovated buildings became ready for use last fall, billboards throughout the downtown area told The Salvation Army’s story. Phone calls and referrals spiked.

“In spite of publicity,” said Watson, “much of our work is still one-on-one and is a seven-day-a-week job.”

Watson did some weekend work in gathering information on the value of in-kind contributions made to the Social Services Campus. That was done because so much of Hollon’s conversation mentioned local businesses, churches and individuals who have partnered with The Salvation Army.

The dollar value of in-kind contributions for 2015 was $2,255,815 and included everything from food donations, landscaping and painting to volunteering and shopping trips for clients.

“Our tours have proved invaluable,” Watson said. “Even some of the conventions and conferences who come to town want to help us locally. They take the tour and end up donating money or sponsoring something for our clients.”

The money raised at The Salvation Army Family Thrift stores is used exclusively to support The Salvation Army’s alcohol and drug rehabilitation program.

“We also love volunteers,” Hollon said. “Yes, we are inundated with volunteer meal servers during the holidays, but we serve 1,000 people a day, with 300 or more of those people coming at 1:30 each afternoon. If people would give us just two hours a day, any day of the week, we’d love it.”

To volunteer, visit salvationarmysouthernnevada.org, and under “How you can help,” click “Volunteer.” For more about the tour, check under “Events.”

The free Behind the Red Shield Tour is planned from noon to 1 p.m. the third Thursday of each month. RSVP online or contact Watson at becky.watson@usw.salvationarmy.org or 708-870-4430.