JASON HAWK
EDITOR
Rumors that the Salvation Army unit in Wellington is being closed due to lack of funding are false, according to the organization’s regional office.
“We’re not closing. We’re not stopping services. We’re just trying to keep our employee there safe,” said Jodi Keller, manager of special services for Greater Cleveland.
The East Herrick Avenue location is offering services by appointment only during the COVID-19 crisis, she said.
Keller said the Wellington unit’s lone employee, Joyce Scott, is in an age range that’s at heightened risk for contracting the coronavirus. To protect her health, another worker will take over limited duties on a temporary basis.
The Wellington location mainly offers assistance with utility shutoffs and renter evictions to people who live in the 44090 zip code. Need for those services is low because of state orders halting those kinds of actions, Keller said.
Thrive Southern Lorain County, an organization funded by the United Way, said last week on Facebook that “the SA Headquarters has made the difficult decision to close down the Wellington office (and others) due to funding being reduced.”
Keller said donations are down a bit, but said income had nothing to do with the temporary change.
