Aiken Salvation Army receives $2M in seed money for resource center expansion project

May 10-AIKEN - The Salvation Army of Aiken has revealed that it's in the early stages of planning to expand its Park Avenue shelter facility.

The goal is to create a comprehensive resource center where homeless individuals can make connections with agencies and nonprofits ready to offer assistance.

On May 8, during the Salvation Army's annual Table of Hope banquet, which serves as a key fundraiser supporting the shelter, Aiken County legislative delegation members presented the organization with a check for $2 million as "seed money" for the project.

"This lays the foundation for millions more...because it's going to be a really big deal and a legacy development that will be here for a century because we need it, we've proven we need it, so hopefully this is a starting point," S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, said.

He noted that the City of Aiken has already budgeted $400,000, some of which has already been utilized for early costs like strategic planning and consultants.

"If we're going to solve this homeless problem, or really attack it, we're going to have to do what other Salvation Armies have done," Taylor said. "A complete resource center where we have the homeless come in and have all the resources they need from the state agencies to county agencies to all the nonprofits that are there to help them."

"Our facility on Park Avenue where individuals are housed, it's done a great job over the years, but it's time to expand," said Clarke McCants III, chairman of the Aiken Salvation Army's advisory board.

Capt. Malaika Good, an administrator and pastor for the Salvation Army in Aiken, spoke more about the Table of Hope event and its impact on the community.

"I'm excited seeing the community support," she said. "Just knowing that a town like Aiken can support the Salvation Army this way, it just makes me excited, it makes me feel warm, because those who are in need in the streets, I wish they could see how much support they have here at an event like this."

"Any penny that's raised tonight goes back into the shelter so that we can continue to support those who are homeless and those who are needing a second chance," she added. "We're the only soup kitchen that's open Monday through Friday so we definitely need volunteers to come and serve lunch, help prepare meals, help donate meals and donate toiletry items, and to just come in and be a friendly face to those who are in need.

Bernice Miller, who is on the Salvation Army board and who is also chairperson for Table of Hope, said they began planning this year's event in August. She said she expects that the event brought in at least $90,000 this year.

"We're seeing the need is obviously rising beyond belief," said Capt. Michael Good, commanding officer with the local Salvation Army. "We're doing everything possible to race to the challenge and meet those needs."

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.