By Kylie Brown

The Albert Lea Salvation Army is involved in different services to help families around the area.

The Girls Guard’s program is a holistic Christian education experience for girls in grades six through 12. The Sunbeam is for grades one through five. The purpose of these programs is to help girls develop different life skills, including social and communication habits, decision making, character and leadership. They encourage the girls with a sense of personal identity and character, Christian values and physical, mental, spiritual and social development.

The Northwoods camp strengthens the spiritual, emotional and physical lives of children and families living in Minnesota and North Dakota. Activities include sports and games, a petting farm, a lake and a pool. Northwoods camps include youth music camp, children’s camp, teen camp, youth sports camp, family camp for mothers with children and tween camp.

The Pathway of Hope program is for anyone who has a child under the age of 18. This program will help families map out a plan for a better future for children.

Other services by the Salvation Army include a food pantry, afterschool programs, summer hot lunch for children June through August, counseling, Centershot Archery instruction, vacation Bible school, character building for children, English as a second language, women of worth, men’s club and disaster relief services.