Salvation Army Looks To Expand Programs In Yalobusha County
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Bobette Wolesensky, Manager of the Salvation Army Oxford spoke to the Water Valley Ambassadors at their monthly meeting held on September 9.
Bobette Wolesensky, manager of the Salvation Army Oxford, which serves Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, and Yalobusha counties, spoke at the Sept. 9, 2025, meeting of the Water Valley Chamber Ambassadors.
In her presentation, Wolesensky shared information about the services and programs currently in place through the Oxford location, and addressed the “wish list” of services, programs, and support she would like to work to put in place in Yalobusha County.
Many people know about the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Oxford, but many are not aware of the direct financial and case management services provided to those in the four-county service area who need help on a one-time or day-to-day basis.
Wolesensky noted, “While we don’t run a shelter or a food pantry or hold church services at the location in Oxford, we do have the ability to refer those in need to Salvation Army shelters and to provide information about food pantries and other social service programs.”
Wolesensky said the Salvation Army provides direct funding for utilities.
“In the past year have made over $29,000 in cash payments for utilities to a combined total of 176 people in 55 households in the four-county area we serve,” noted Wolesensky. Approximately 15 percent of that money assisted residents of Yalobusha County.
A robust Senior Food and Hygiene Supply voucher program provides $7,500 in vouchers that seniors on fixed incomes can use at the CashSaver location in Oxford. In the past year, 42 seniors in Lafayette County have benefited from this program. Wolesensky said a goal is to develop and implement a similar program in Yalobusha County in 2025.
Funding for these programs, and the Angel Tree program, which served 70 children from 28 families in the four-county area in 2024, comes from donations to the Salvation Army Red Kettles program and from revenue in excess of expenses at the Thrift Store. Incidentally, the Angel Tree program last year provided gifts for children in five families in Yalobusha County.
When asked how Water Valley residents and businesses can help the Salvation Army, Wolesensky answered, “By working with us to get Red Kettle bellringers at the CashSaver in Water Valley and through donations of goods to the store. We are hoping to establish a Senior Food & Hygiene Voucher program with CashSaver here in Water Valley, and to increase our ability to assist with more utilities as the cost of energy is increasing.”
