Salvation site receives upgrade
The Butler Salvation Army has a whole new look.
A year ago, sewage backup caused the entire basement of the Salvation Army at 313 W. Cunningham St. to be flooded.
Fast forward a year later, and the Salvation Army is putting the finishing touches on gleaming renovations of not only its basement area but also its first floor.
The public will have a chance to view this renovation Sunday during a dedication at 2 p.m., with an open house to follow until 4 p.m.
“It's looking really lovely,” said Salvation Army Maj. Valerie Hazeldine. “In comparison to what it was a year ago it's looking really gorgeous.”
The Salvation Army upgraded its kitchen and its equipment, including a new stove, refrigerator and freezer.
“The whole thing had to be gutted because it was completely destroyed, and it's all new equipment and it's nice,” Hazeldine said.
The bathroom also was upgraded to become handicap accessible. The flooring of the first floor was reinstalled, while the walls were repainted.
The chapel and gymnasium also were renovated, and there also is now a handicap-accessible ramp to the building.
In all, the renovations cost about $800,000.
The renovations to the basement will allow for programs to once again be held at the Salvation Army, including after-school basketball and volleyball programs for youths, Sunday school classes, and senior women's programs.
The soup kitchen, which serves people daily and was being run from the back of the chapel during the renovations, will now again be run in the basement.
Peg Weckerly, chairman of the Salvation Army's advisory committee, is thrilled by the renovations and the opportunity to provide programs for people in Butler.
“This is the greatest thing to happen in downtown Butler for people in need that you could possibly imagine,” she said.
