The Vail Valley Service Unit of the Salvation Army provides emergency assistance and strives to meet human needs, in an effort to promote self-sufficiency. In fact, that’s so important it’s our mission statement. The Vail Salvation Army’s overall goal is to stabilize living conditions by providing food, shelter and housing, utility assistance and basic needs for families and individuals who are temporarily unable to provide for themselves.

“We’re here to help people who’ve hit a rough patch,” explained Dan Smith, Chairman of the Board. “We try to play an end game. Are they in housing that’s too expensive for them, is there some solution we can find that can keep this problem from recurring? We work toward some resolution of the issue, even though it might not be immediate. We also partner with other agencies.”

The Vail Valley Salvation Army was established in Eagle County in 1984 to address the needs of stranded motorists traveling the I- 70 corridor. In that year, the Salvation Army helped six families who were struggling to make ends meet with food baskets and clothing at Christmas.

As the population of the Valley grew, the role of the Salvation Army expanded to include our current programs, which address the needs of a growing community. Over twenty five years later, the Salvation Army not only offers help to stranded motorists, but assistance to hundreds of families and individuals every year who are in financial need or are involved in emergency situations.

The Vail Salvation Army was organized as – and remains – self sufficient selfsufficient service extension unit providing funding for its programs and activities without the financial assistance of National or Regional chapters of the Salvation Army.

The Vail Valley Salvation Army strives to provide emergency aid while at the same time promoting collaboration with other help agencies in an effort to promote self-sufficiency. We have several service programs to help us achieve our goals.

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