Salvation Army of Hagerstown Launches $500,000 Campaign to Rebuild Services After Fire

The Salvation Army of Hagerstown has initiated a significant fundraising effort, aiming to raise $500,000 to bridge the financial gap created by a fire that severely damaged its Dual Highway Thrift Store earlier this year. This campaign is crucial for maintaining the operational capacity of three essential community programs – the Manna Soup Kitchen, the Women and Children’s Shelter, and the Red Shield Youth Center – which serve thousands of residents in Washington County.

Per a press release from The Salvation Army of Hagerstown, the fire, which originated from a battery in the store’s basement storage area, caused extensive damage to a significant portion of the building. This necessitates a full reconstruction of the affected section. The organization has engaged a contractor and is currently collaborating with engineers on the repair process, with an estimated reopening date for the Dual Highway store in the fall of 2027. In parallel, The Salvation Army is working towards establishing a smaller, secondary store location, with hopes of launching it by the end of the current calendar year. The sales generated by the Dual Highway store historically represented a substantial portion of the funding for these vital local programs.

The $500,000 campaign is specifically designed to address the revenue shortfall that insurance, which is covering only the building repairs, does not account for. The Salvation Army served an impressive 41,938 individuals in Washington County during the last fiscal year and is committed to ensuring that all its programs remain fully staffed and operational throughout the rebuilding process. This commitment is directly supported by the funds raised through this campaign.

“This has never just been about a store,” said Major Mark Van Meter, Hagerstown Corps Officer. “Our store provides critical needs for clients and good finds for the bargain seeker. Another purpose of the store is to fund our many community programs. When the
Hagerstown Store moved to Dual Highway our community loved the new location. Consequently, we were able to provide more services. With the absence of the store, our penny pinching is beginning to hurt.”

A key element of the current fundraising drive is a $50,000 matching gift generously provided by the God’s Grace Fund. This matching gift means that every donation made towards the campaign will be matched dollar-for-dollar until the full $50,000 is utilized. Community members wishing to contribute to this effort can do so by visiting the dedicated campaign page at tinyurl.com/SAHagerstownGive or by donating online through The Salvation Army’s Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C. division website at https://give.salvationarmymarylandvirginiawestvirginiawashingtondc.org/campaign/825071/donate. For those who prefer to donate via check, contributions should be made payable to The Salvation Army of Hagerstown and mailed to PO Box 747, Hagerstown, MD 21740.

Despite the closure of the Dual Highway store, The Salvation Army continues to accept donated goods. Donations can be dropped off at the store’s loading dock, located at 1310 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, MD, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Further updates on the rebuilding process and the launch of the new store location will be shared as they become available. The Salvation Army of Hagerstown has a long-standing history of service to Washington County families and individuals, having provided essential resources such as food, shelter, and support for 125 years without discrimination.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from The Salvation Army of Hagerstown

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