Local Salvation Army closed while relocating, reorganizing

The Ponca City Salvation Army office, which was located at 1804 North Fifth Street, has closed while the organization makes arrangements for a new location and reorganization.

The local advisory board voted last week to disband, according to members of that board.

Cindy Fuller, Divisional Communications Director of the Salvation Army’s Arkansas-Oklahoma Division, said Thursday that the closing is temporary and a new location is expected to open before Thanksgiving.

She also said  that some members of the previous advisory council, along with new volunteers, have agreed to serve on a new board.

Michael Schlichting, the former director of  the Ponca City location, has accepted another opportunity, Fuller said.

“We are looking for volunteers to handle things, and we are still going to do social services,” Fuller said.

One of  the main concerns at this time of the year for the Salvation Army is its Angel Tree Project, which provides Christmas gifts to income-qualified recipients.

“We are working on the Angel Tree Program, looking for someone to oversee that this year,” Fuller said. “We need someone who is willing to oversee the program. It is a volunteer position.

“We know there are people who need it, but we need help doing it,” she said. “There’s the application process, getting the trees out so people can buy the gifts; collecting the gifts and distributing them. The program will run later this year than it typically does, but we will get the information out immediately. We are also hoping for some donations to come in, which would help.”

Fuller said she expects to have more information next week about acquiring a new location and redeveloping the services that can be offered.