Salvation Army Yuma breaks ground on new location

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - On Tuesday morning, The Salvation Army Yuma broke ground on a new community center that will soon serve as its permanent location.

The dirt lot across from Fourth Avenue Junior High, will soon be replaced by a building where anyone can seek help to meet their needs, whether it’s hunger, rent or utilities assistance or just a place to sit down and escape the Yuma heat.

Lieutenants Jonathan and Amber Herzog were stationed in Yuma last July and say they're excited to take on this new project.

“This project is going to be our corps, which in the salvation army, that’s basically a church, but it’s not just a meet on Sunday kind of place, it’s a community center,” said the Herzogs.

The couple say they look forward to having a permanent building to serve yuma county residents, after renting the Catalina facility since January 2021.

The idea of this center has been in the works for several years now and will be just one, of more than 50 salvation army centers of operation across the state.

The estimated cost for this project is 2.4 million dollars.
“The divisional headquarters has pledged over half the cost for this project, and the rest of it has been raised by local supporters here in Yuma. We have wonderful donors here in Yuma. Wonderful people who support the Salvation Army,” said Lt. Colonel Ivan Wild, the Salvation Army Southwest Divisional Commander.

Deputy Mayor, Leslie McClendon says the city appreciates the part the salvation army plays in our community.
“The opportunity that we have here at the city and the location that they’re out here on Fourth Avenue, is huge for us. They’re in our community, they’re invested and we here really appreciate that,” said McClendon.

The Salvation Army Yuma plans to open the doors of its new facility next May, saying they hope to continue meeting the ever-changing needs of our community.