The Salvation Army has launched pages within a few social networking sites designed to bring friends together who celebrate the Red Shield and the work it does in our community with your help! Want to be friends? Log on!
The Salvation Army was founded in London, England in 1865. The Army made its way to America in 1880 and in 1890 began in Nashville focusing on problems specific to this area.
Major milestones include the erection of 8 separate service centers housing many programs:
- 1900: Opened the 90 bed Adult Alcohol and Rehabilitation Center for men.
- 1940-2000: Commissioned, and occasionally relocated, four community-based worship/service centers now including Laotian/Thai and Hispanic centers.
- 1940: Built and opened The Salvation Army "Red Shield" Community Center - rebuilt in 1984 as the Magness-Potter Community Center which offered Army administered youth and adult leisure activity programs.
- 1953-55: Held the first Olympic Pole Vault competition and launched the National Football League, all on the playground right behind us.
- 1980: Relocated its Area Command facility from Demonbreun to Dickerson Road, and opened a 75 person transient shelter, a 15 unit family shelter, an emergency shelter for men and a day and night child care center serving homeless and other families in urgent need.
- 1998-2000: Renovated the Magness-Potter Center to accommodate the new Red Shield Family Initiative (RSFI) at within the Sam Levy Homes neighborhood occurred in 1999.
- 2005- Present: Demolition of Sam Levy Homes and the quality of life revival of our inner city Northeast Nashville residential and commercial community.
- The most recent milestone being sculpted at this moment: The Salvation Army's "Life Skills Learning" umbrella being lifted over all Nashville Area Command programs.