The Salvation Army Merger Creates One of the Largest Divisions in the U.S.
The Salvation Army Merger Creates One of the Largest Divisions in U.S.
Reunified California South Division Encompasses All of Southern California from San Luis Obispo to Mexican Border
Los Angeles, CA. July 1, 2018 – After months of planning, The Salvation Army has merged two major California divisions in a reunification project resulting in the announcement of the California South Division. Services will span as far north as San Luis Obispo, continue through Los Angeles San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, and include San Diego – becoming one of the largest Salvation Army divisions in the United States and covering 51 Corps and a population of 22 million people.
Divisional headquarters will be located in Long Beach for the time being with Regional Offices in Orange County and San Diego. The newly promoted Lt. Colonels John and Lani Chamness will serve as Divisional Commanders, having recently served in that capacity for The Salvation Army’s Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division. “The California South Division will be on the front lines on the urgent issues facing the nation,” said Lt. Colonel John Chamness, “We’re honored to lead the hardworking men and women that make tangible differences in the lives of so many in the Southland daily.”
Programs and services will continue uninterrupted throughout the new California South Division. The reunification of former Southern California and Sierra Del Mar Divisions will reduce costs, increase income and develop ministry on a larger scale and scope such as free dental clinic in Oxnard, the largest homeless shelter in LA county, life-changing community centers in the inner-city, summer camps for at-risk youth, cutting-edge veteran employment series, massive Christmas season food and toy programs and the facility to respond to natural and man-made disasters as they arise. The combined resources of the California South division will bring a renewed focus on providing services without discrimination and Doing the Most Good for the whole of Southern California.
Media Inquiries: Robert Brennan at 818-648-9098 or Robert.Brennan@usw.salvationarmy.org
Media Inquiries for San Diego County: Rachael Fowler at 619-768-3671 or at Rachael.Fowler@usw.salvationarmy.org
Media Inquiries for Orange County: Kevin White at 310-531-0127 or at Kevin.White@usw.salvationarmy.org
About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1880 in the United States. Today, more than 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and underprivileged children. About 82 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in 7,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to californiasouth.salvationarmy.org