Charles and Sharon Smith by kbritt

Maj. Charles Smith is the new divisional commander, and his wife, Sharon, is the new director of women's ministries. The division is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., and oversees Kansas and 10 counties in western Missouri.

There are 23 Salvation Army community centers throughout the division, including one in Lawrence at 946 N.H.

In 2009, the division served more than 358,000 people by providing food, clothing, shelter, emergency assistance and other services.

The Smiths were both born and raised in Kansas City, Mo. They were commissioned and ordained as Salvation Army officers in 1978 and have served in various positions throughout the Midwest, including Wichita. Most recently, they served as divisional commanders for The Salvation Army’s Heartland Division, headquartered in Peoria, Ill.

A stroller is parked outside a Salvation Army office, while the 29-year-old mother and her 3-month-old son visit a staff member. They are homeless and seeking assistance at the agency. by Mike Yoder

A 29-year-old woman was eating lunch at The Salvation Army on July 19, while her 3-month-old son slept in his stroller. They returned in the evening to get respite from the hot and humid weather.

“I’ve been in an out of the shelter for about six years because of domestic violence issues — verbal and physical,” she said, during an interview in the gymnasium at the shelter, 946 N.H. She shared her story, but wanted to remain anonymous.

She said she can’t seem to get away from bad relationships.

“This time I decided to leave my son’s dad because of his drinking. He just wouldn’t lay off after the baby was born, so I figured it was time to leave.”

Holly Hulburt, case manager, sorts food items from the pantry in the basement of The Salvation Army into piles to put into grocery bags, based on family size. The food pantry served 359 people in June, a 22 percent increase from January. by Mike Yoder

Holly Hulburt took food from the pantry in the basement of The Salvation Army and placed it on a long row of tables.

He was sorting the food - rice, cereal, canned corn - into piles to put into grocery bags, based on family size.

"We try to keep them premade so that way when people come in for food, we can just give them the bag," Hulburt said.

As he sorted, he talked about the increasing need for The Salvation Army's services. The food pantry served 359 people in June, a 22 percent increase from January.

"I just don't think people realize how many homeless or near homeless we have," said Hulburt, who has provided case management and economic assistance at the faith-based organization for four years.

"We have a large number of newly homeless. I've had a number of clients who have said, 'I used to be giving to you here, but now I am on the other end,'" he said.

Diana Brauer by cheesemon

Diana Brauer is food service director at The Salvation Army. She has been working there since September.

I visited with her while she was preparing lunch about 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 19. On the menu: hamburgers, fries and salad.

Volunteer Ken Karr, a retired Lawrence resident, also was in the kitchen. He helps her twice a week — usually Mondays and Fridays. He volunteers about 14 hours a week.

“He’s a godsend,” she said.

Ideally, she would like to have three volunteers to help prepare and cleanup after meals, but most days she’s lucky to have one.

The Salvation Army provides lunch three days a week — Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

For three hours every night, The Salvation Army opens its basement to the homeless, giving them a respite from the streets.

They can do laundry, read a newspaper, watch television, use a telephone and eat. The Salvation Army calls it the Warming & Cooling program.

Sixty-four people — from babies to elderly — used the program on Monday, July 19, when I spent 10 hours at the agency, talking to employees, clients and volunteers.

Jacquelyn Curlett, 44, who has been homeless for four months, had just finished eating and was watching TV when I approached her.

Curlett said she resigned from her job in Kansas City, so she could take care of her father who was ill in Dayton, Ohio. She worked with women who were recovering from alcohol in a rehabilitation home. When he died, she hoped to get it back.

But, no such luck.

During the past three years, Marjie, 43, and her two children, ages 10 and 16, have overcome great challenges.

They went from living comfortably on a monthly income of $4,500 to being homeless for about eight months. Now, they are living in a duplex on $588 per month.

“It was hard,” Marjie said, teary-eyed as she sat across from me at a table in the gymnasium of The Salvation Army. “It was major scary and there were times when I wanted to give up.”

She credits Carol Taylor, her case manager at The Salvation Army, for helping her family survive.

“If it wasn’t for her, I think there were times when I would have went bonkers,” Marjie said.