WEST PITTSTON — Members of the Salvation Army are always receiving generosity, so this time they decided to return the favor by holding a free carnival for the community.
The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13 at the West Pittston Salvation Army located at 214 Luzerne Ave.
Misty Coffelt, the officer in charge of the West Pittston Salvation Army, said there was no specific reason for the carnival. She said they just wanted to do something to give back to the local community.
“It’s just a way for us to reach out to our community and let them know we are here, and that the Salvation Army is in our community,” she said.
The carnival will feature foods such as hot dogs, cotton candy, snow cones and prizes for children. There will also be door prizes for adults such as gift baskets containing a variety of different donations.
Coffelt said everything at the carnival from the games, to the prizes and food stands is donated by other Salvation Armies and local patrons. Because everything is donated, she said the West Pittston Salvation Army does not have to worry about making up the money, so therefore the carnival is free.
She said there is also no cost for food or games.
“We’re borrowing supplies from other Salvation Armies so we can host it and that way we don’t have to pay for any of the games or the cotton candy machine,” she said. “Other Salvation Armies have purchased them and we’re just borrowing them.”
Coffelt said this is not the first time the West Pittston Salvation Army has had a carnival, but it is the first time since 2011 when they celebrated 100 years in the borough.
With the Sept. 13 carnival looming, Coffelt hope this will be a good way for people in the community to have fun and become reacquainted with the Salvation Army.
“We’re just trying to make people aware of the fact that the Salvation Army is in our community and that we’re here to help people,” she said. “We’re also a church, and show that we want to be readily available to anyone.”
Some of the services the West Pittston Salvation Army provide include food assistance in which those in need can obtain non-perishable food items on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to 1 p.m. Salvation Army volunteers also give out bread and pastries to parishes that are donated from local grocery stores.
At Christmas time, the Salvation Army provides food and toys for people in need.
