Just weeks into the 2010 summer season, The Salvation Army Greater Houston Area Command is facing an unprecedented economic crisis. During the first six months of this year, the 121 year-old nonprofit organization has already provided financial assistance to the same number of clients it did during the entire 12-month period of the previous year – a dramatic increase of 50 percent in individuals served.

“At the same time we are serving more people than ever, our available resources have remained the same in terms of staff and donations. Every single dollar we have is being stretched as far as possible to help as many individuals in our community as we can,” says Major Chris Flanagan, Area Commander for The Salvation Army Greater Houston Area Command. “We do not want to have to make the choice between which programs and services to prioritize over others, but the reality is The Salvation Army is struggling. Now more than ever we need our community to support us through these difficult times.”

Last year, The Salvation Army Greater Houston Area Command helped approximately 2,500 local families avoid homelessness through its social services department. This year, through the end of last month, the nonprofit had already provided the same assistance to virtually the same number of people, with the expectation that this number will double by the end of the year.

Individuals and corporations interested in assisting The Salvation Army Greater Houston Area Command are asked to make monetary donations by calling 1-800 SAL-ARMY or by visiting www.SalvationArmyHouston.org. Text donations in the amount of $10 are also being accepted through the texting of the word SALARMY to the number 90999 – standard text message rates apply through individual mobile service providers.