Sally Ann hoping to combine operations

City council OKs zoning change to allow Salvation Army to move its services to former Penticton Western News site

The needs of Penticton’s most vulnerable are growing and the Salvation Army says it needs to grow with them.

That’s why the Salvation Army was in front of city council this week to seek a zoning change that would see the charitable Christian organization move all its services to one location at 2250 Camrose St.

The Salvation Army wants to buy the 14,000-squarefoot building and hopes to move the food bank, two thrift stores, life skills training and offices to the former home of the Penticton Western News.

After a public hearing Tuesday, council unanimously passed the zoning change.

The building is zoned industrial and should the Salvation Army vacate the building, it could revert back to industrial, said staff.

The Salvation Army has a long history in Penticton, and the new location will allow it more room, the application stated.

Currently, its two thrift stores, the food bank and offices are scattered across Penticton.

Salvation Army supporter Elvina Slump said she wanted to speak to all the organization has brought to Penticton.

“I want to speak to the human element. Salvation Army has touched the lives of many in the community, from addiction counselling to disaster help to camps for kids,” she said.

She added that farmers contribute a lot to the food bank.

“Farmers from around here donate a large amount of produce,” she said.

“Many people depend on the food bank and the need seems to increase each year. High rents squeeze young, working families who can’t afford to buy produce,” she said. “The food bank is too small for the present needs of the community.”

Darrell Clark, who operates a business next to the Camrose Street property, said he supports everything the Salvation Army does but worries about putting vulnerable people in a busy industrial area.

“We have to give our down-and-out a hand, but we are losing another part of our industrial area,” he said. “Our company sends 60,000 pounds of steel down that road, so be careful with traffic and pedestrians if this goes in.”

“I do encourage that there should be regular public transit to this site,” said council watcher Lynn Kelsey. “They need to be able to get home with their hampers.

“The city wouldn’t be where it is without the social service agencies here like the Salvation Army,” Kelsey added.