The Salvation Army Florida

Dignitaries Attend Kick-off for the Marjorie Merriweather Post’s “Paradise Ball” to Benefit The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County.

West Palm Beach, Florida (September 22, 2022) – A kick-off event was held in New York on September 14th to inaugurate the Marjorie Merriweather Post’s “Paradise Ball” to benefit The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County. The stylish soiree was hosted by Susan and Hunter Cushing at their Park Avenue apartment.

The “The Paradise Ball” is scheduled for Saturday, December 10, 2022, at the Palm Beach, Florida Mar-a-Lago Club. The historic landmark home was selected for the White Tie Event due to its original owner, Marjorie Merriweather Post, who purchased the land and constructed her residence in 1922, the same year that The Salvation Army located its offices in Palm Beach, Florida.

Apart from Libby Pataki, former First Lady of New York, bestselling author, Allison Pataki, attended the reception and read a passage from her recent novel “The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie M. Post.” Additional guests included Holly Holden, Chair, Farley Rentschler, Junior Chair of the Ball, and many other Palm Beach residents, Majors Chip and Leisa Hall, Area Commanders of The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County were also in attendance.

“Marjorie Merriweather Post lived her life in service to others,” said Allison Pataki. “During the Great Depression, Post locked up her priceless jewels and threw herself into opening and running the Marjorie Post Hutton Canteen in partnership with The Salvation Army, whereby she fed thousands of hungry New Yorkers each day. As Post was also the consummate hostess, the “Paradise Ball,” would be just the sort of gathering that Post could have supported with her unrivaled enthusiasm and generosity. It will be an opportunity to serve others,” continued Pataki, “to gather with friends new and old, and to come together as a community to make the world a better place.”

“How fortunate we are to celebrate a century of the devoted service of the Salvation Army of Palm Beach County,” said Holly Holden. The White Tie “Paradise Ball” will have a festive theme of pink and will radiate merriment, and embrace a time of old-world graciousness, where charm, and politeness were a way of life. As The Salvation Army was founded in London in l865, Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill (Blenheim Palace) and Her Grace, The Duchess of Rutland (Belvoir Castle) in England, have graciously agreed to be Honorary Chairs.” In total agreement, Rentschler said “I think after everything that everyone’s gone through in the past two years it will be quite a joy to have something so glamorous as a white tie party to look forward to!”

To purchase Ticket to the “Paradise Ball,” or for more information about The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County, please call (561) 686-3530 or visit the organization’s webpage to view upcoming events and photos of various era events. Website: https://salvationarmyflorida.org/westpalmbeach. Facebook information can be found by searching for @salarmypbco.

The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County will offer 100-days of reduced prices at Thrift Store to help local families.

West Palm Beach, Florida (September 26, 2022) – In honor of its Centennial Anniversary, The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County is offering “100-Days of Savings” (September 22 – January 30, 2022) at its two-Family Store Locations.

Shoppers will receive weekly in store discounts on already reduced prices for the 100 days of savings. Purchases of any amount will also be eligible for a weekly $100 Shopping Coupon Prize drawing by submitting their email address. A Cash Grand Prize of $250 will be drawn from all entry forms on Day 100 (December 30, 2022).

“The decision to offer “100-Days of Savings” was made due to the overwhelming financial needs of local families in dealing with increasing clothing, furniture, and appliance prices created by rising inflation and supply shortages,” said Major Chip Hall, the Area Commander of The Salvation Army of Palm beach County. I can think of no better way to celebrate our organization’s Centennial Anniversary than to focus on helping local families deal with the nation’s current financial crisis.”

“I want to personally invite the public to visit our two-Family Store locations during our “100-Days of Savings,” said Bruce Garabrant. “While our 30,000 s/f Super Store is located at 655 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach, our smaller boutique is located at 4001 Kirk Road, Lake Worth. The Salvation Army Family Store staff and I look forward to serving and awarding our weekly coupon and final cash grand prize to our eligible shoppers.”

To schedule a pick-up please call the Family Store Manager, at (561) 683-3513). For more information about The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County, please call (561) 686-3530 or visit: https://salvationarmyflorida.org/westpalmbeach. Facebook information can be found by searching for @salarmypbco.

The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County will celebrate its Centennial Gala at Marjorie Merriweather Post’s historic landmark resort.

West Palm Beach, Florida (July 13, 2022) – The Centennial Anniversary Committee of The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County will host “The Paradise Ball” on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at the Mar-a-Lago Club. The historic landmark home was selected for the White tie Event due to its initial owner, Marjorie Merriweather Post, who purchased the land and constructed her residence in 1922, the same year that The Salvation Army located its offices in Palm Beach, Florida.

After the stock market crash of October 1929, Marjorie Merriweather Post became deeply concerned with the plight of those affected by the hardships of Great Depression, especially the multitude of hungry people. She put her jewels into a vault, cancelled the insurance, and with the money saved she provided funds for the Marjorie Post Hutton Free Food Station. It was operated by The Salvation Army in New York City, in the area commonly known as “Hell’s Kitchen.” One newspaper described her as “Lady Bountiful” because of her gracious generosity to those less fortunate. For five years, from 1930 to 1935, thousands of grateful women and children received nourishing hot meals in dignified surroundings.

“It is a joy to announce that the ‘The Paradise Ball,’ will mark the Centennial Anniversary of The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County,” said Holly Holden, Chair of the Anniversary Committee. “For this once-in-a-lifetime occasion, it is fitting that guests will enjoy splendid repasts and dancing in the elegant surroundings, built by such a wonderful philanthropist as Marjorie Merriweather Post. On behalf of the entire Committee,” continued Holden, “I am honored to invite the entire Palm Beach County Community to help the organization inaugurate a new century of dedicated service by attending our festive White tie event.”

“The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County has been a vital part of the South Florida community for 100 years,” said Majors Chip and Leisa Hall. “It is, indeed, a privilege to have been selected to continue the 100-year legacy of this august location by serving, inspiring, and transforming the lives of the less fortunate as its Area Commanders. We look forward to celebrating our Centennial Anniversary with the entire Palm Beach County community at “The Paradise Ball.”

Ever-increasing members of the Anniversary Committee currently include Holly Holden, Chair; Farley Rentschler, Chair of the Junior Committee; William Mikus, Chair of Salvation Army Advisory Board; Marie Davis, Advisory Board member; Paula Mikus, Salvation Army Ambassador Circle member; Dr. Frank Marangos, Director of Development and Communications; and Susan Cushing, event planner and owner of Espalier Events.

For more information about The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County please call (561) 686-3530 or visit the organization’s Centennial Celebration webpage to view upcoming events and photos of various era events. Facebook information can be found by searching for @salarmypbco.

Due to overwhelming positive response, the Salvation Army of Palm Beach County will continue offering reduced Thrift Store prices to help local families.

West Palm Beach, Florida (July 28, 2022) – The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County will continue offering a 25% discount on already reduced prices at its two Family Stores during the month of August. The decision was made due to the overwhelming response of local families who expressed appreciation to the organization for helping them deal with increasing clothing, furniture, and appliance prices created by rising inflation and supply shortages due to the nation’s current financial crisis.

“We are humbled by the outpouring of appreciation expressed by local residents to our Family Store volunteers and employees,” said Major James Hall, The Salvation Army’s Area Commander, “for helping them deal with the nation’s current financial crisis. As our mission is to always strive to ‘Do the Most Good,” we have decided to continue offering reduced Thrift Store prices.”

“I want to personally invite the public to visit our two Family Store locations,” said Bruce Garabrant.” While our 30,000 s/f Super Store is located at 655 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach, our smaller boutique is located at 4001 Kirk Road, Lake Worth. However, due to the overwhelming demand on our inventory, I want to encourage those that can, to donate good quality merchandise at either, or both locations. The need for useable quality items is great,” said Garabrant, “so please join us in helping local families with the most need.”