The Salvation Army is dedicated to varied types of help throughout our nation, including here in Arizona. It runs programs around the world and helps people regardless of their faith. The Army expects all employees and church members to abstain from using alcohol, tobacco, and illegal substances. The Salvation Army's stated purpose is helping people thrive and achieve goals, and for those who choose to do so, live a spiritual life as a member of The Army. With that being said, Salvation Army provides programs to communities around the globe, including drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, Christmas giving, youth programs, services to the elderly, disaster relief and missing persons programs. There are also recreation and music programs available for enrichment. These programs are funded through donations of cash, vehicles and profits from the well know Salvation Army Thrift Stores. Why do they do it? According to guidance on their website, they believe that "it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Salvation Army 1).
For example, in Tucson, Arizona, Michael Kennedy (45 years old) went from being a criminal on the run to a two year sober man. Kennedy states, in a local news story, he started to do drugs at the age of thirteen and continued being dependent on the high (Kinney 696). As a multiple time offender, he couldn't care less about the consequences and came to the conclusion he'd spent his whole life in and out of prison. Then came the day that the courts let him out with one condition; rehabilitation. During this program, he learned how to take responsibility for his actions, quit his drug addiction and crime, and most importantly, how to create an attitude for success. The Salvation Army's rehabilitation program restores lives and is enforced in local prisons, providing ministries to prevent future crime.