Elizabeth Orosco
Northeast News

The Salvation Army, located at 3013 E. 9th Street, has recently become part of the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

Major Janice Love said the organization just celebrated their 75th anniversary at that location.

“We wanted to be a part of the Northeast community,” she said. “I see a value of every organization being a part of the. community and showing that we respect it, want to revitalize it, and be a part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

Becoming part of the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Love said, is showing the community they are coming alongside their neighbors and that they are invested in the community.

“We want to be here for the long-range,” Love said. “We don’t want to be here for short-term fixes. Anything that happens in the community is going to be a long-term effect and we want to be a part of that.”

Love said the organization is fully prepared and committed to seeing lasting change in the Northeast.

“The value of that may not be seen immediately, but it’s in the long-term,” she said. “We can’t go out and do things and see immediate change, but if you plan on being here for the long-haul, people respect that more than coming in and doing one thing.”

One unique characteristic Love said the Northeast community brings is ownership.

“What I noticed immediately when I came here four years ago was ownership,” she said. “The Northeast stands on their own and speaks up for what they need and they don’t back down. If they feel strongly about it, they are very tenacious and that is a good thing in a community.”

Love said the community also keeps the Salvation Army accountable to its name.

“If we weren’t about the community, they were going to put us to task and I respected that,” she said.

Going to the neighborhood meetings, Love said she experienced a community who was very proud of their home.

“I heard the pride that they had as they talked about solutions that needed to happen,” she said. “They know what is happening in their communities. Who doesn’t want to have that and be a part of that?”

Currently, the Salvation Army offers a variety of services to the community, including a daily cafe, emergency assistance, a food pantry, a soccer team, offering clothing to those coming out of incarceration, and various kid’s services.

Overall, Love said the Northeast is the hidden gem of Kansas City.

“It’s a sleeping giant and I don’t think people give it enough credit as they should.”

To contact the Salvation Army for assistance, call 2-1-1 to reach the United Way.