Salvation Army receives $5,000 grant from Alliant Energy Foundation

CEDAR RAPIDS - Officials from The Salvation Army in Cedar Rapids are aiming to put the near-annual $5,000 in grant money they received from the Alliant Energy Foundation toward the organization's rental assistance program.

Lia Pontarelli, director of development and communications, said this is the first year the grant is helping fund this particular program.

'(The grant) will go directly to financial assistance, clients,” Pontarelli said, adding the money will help impact families in Linn County.

By directing the grant to this program, other donations can be directed to other programs.

The rental assistance program aims to prevent homelessness. The Salvation Army helps approximately 350 households in Linn County each year.

'(Families) can receive assistance once every 12 months and we typically do $150,” Pontarelli said. 'We help as much as we can.”

She said they don't want to just 'put a Band-Aid on the problem either,” so families that reach out to the program also receive additional support through resources The Salvation Army suggests.

Julia Bauer, executive director of the Alliant Energy Foundation, said providing shelter for families is one of the company's top philanthropic priorities.

'We are proud to support The Salvation Army in their efforts to assist people in need of stabilizing their housing in times of crisis,” Bauer said.

In previous years, the Alliant grant has been applied to The Salvation Army's community meal program and supplemental food box program.

'Having partners like Alliant Energy is extremely beneficial,” Pontarelli said. 'It allows us to make sure we are helping as many people as we can who may be losing hope, struggling, or dealing with tough times.

'We give them a help out and hopefully they see light at end of the tunnel.”

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