The Salvation Army's downtown family shelter, completed but unopened because of declines in donations, is set to take in its first families Friday.
Maj. James Seiler of the Salvation Army in Atlanta said that four donors have stepped up with gifts of $100,000 each since August, and some grant-making organizations have chipped in with other donors to give the agency the money it needs to open.
"We cut the ribbon [Thursday] at 2 p.m., and nine families are slated to move in Friday," Seiler said. "I suspect before the week is out, the place will be full."
The nonprofit raised $5.9 million when times were flush to renovate its shelter on Luckie Street and build a new wing for 21 families, who are often split up among shelters. It was nearing completion last summer, but the economic crisis left the Salvation Army with no money to hire staff to operate it. The agency has given out $665,000 more in emergency aid this year than last, and donations have come in slower. Seiler estimated it will take $600,000 a year to operate the family shelter, which includes services such as intensive counseling to get families back on their feet.
"Needless to say, we are going to have to fund-raise for this program all year-round," Seiler said.
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