Vail Valley Salvation Army needs to find a new home in less than 30 days
Nonprofit has spent 13 years in its current site in Avon
Vail Daily archive
The local chapter of the Salvation Army has made miracles happen for a lot of locals. The group now needs a miracle of its own.
After 13 years of rent-free use of a building on the Traer Creek property in Avon, chapter director Tsu Wolin-Brown was informed last week that the group has to move by Oct. 11.
The notice comes as Traer Creek is starting to move forward with plans to develop the part of its property on the valley floor between City Market and the Piedmont apartments.
But that means the Salvation Army has to move both its office operations and its food pantry.
That pantry is busy, helping more than 3,400 people per month, and distributing more than 850 food boxes. The group helps many others with rent, bills and other assistance. There are times when as many as 90 individuals and families per day come seeking assistance.
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Wolin-Brown said she remains grateful to Traer Creek’s owners for so many years of rent-free space, but the short notice to move “puts us in a very difficult position.” Wolin-Brown said she’s known for some time that the nonprofit would have to move, but didn’t think there would be such short notice.
The people at Traer Creek have offered to give the building to the Salvation Army and will pay to move the structure to a new site. But a new site has to be found first.
The 30-day notice comes at a difficult time. The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are coming, which means time to fill hundreds of holiday food boxes. The annual bell-ringing campaign is coming up, as is the Adopt-a-Family program.
Besides all that, Wolin-Brown is set to retire on Oct. 1. New director Monica Villalobos Russel just started work last week.
People associated with the local Salvation Army have put out the word near and far seeking help. Wolin-Brown has been tirelessly working with her contacts in hopes of finding office space, property, or some combination.
“It’s not as bleak as it sounds,” Wolin-Brown said. And help is already starting to come in.
Local project manager Patrick Scanlan has offered his services to help manage the move and its logistics. Others have also offered their help.
But someone, or some organization, still needs to step up with an offer of a new home. Even office space and a place to park a modular unit for a food pantry would be fine, but a place to re-establish the garden and greenhouse would be great.
There’s some time, but, Wolin-Brown said it may be time for a miracle.
