SALVATION ARMY UNVEILS BUILDING PLANS

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A scale model of a 17,200-square-foot building for the Salvation Army was unveiled Monday at the organization's annual dinner meeting.

The one-story building will be built at the same location as the current building, on the corner of Sprigg and Good Hope Streets in Cape Girardeau.

Salvation Army officials declined to reveal the estimated cost of the new building, but said construction may start within a year depending on the success of fundraising campaigns.

Charles Pruitt, chairman of the building committee said it was more financially feasible for the organization to construct a new building than to try to refurbish the current one. He said the budget for the new building has not been finalized.

A capital fundraising campaign for the new facility will begin in a few months, Pruitt said. It will be constructed next to and behind the current building, which will not be torn down until the new one is open for operation, said Stanley Downs, advisory board member.

"There will be room for us to hold more educational programs and possibly some sports programs," said Pruitt. "And, of course, we'll be able to feed and care for more people."

Downs said the organization's current facility has 4,200 "usable square feet."

The planned facility consists of a large, multi-purpose room, kitchen, nursery, chapel, library, classroom, fellowship room and administrative offices. It will be called the Salvation Army Worship and Community Center.

"It's going to be one of the better buildings once you leave St. Louis," Down said.

Also at the meeting, businesses and individuals were honored for their contributions to the organization. According its annual report, the Salvation Army raised more then $285,000 during 1990.

More than half of that, 62 percent, came from public fund raisers such as the annual Christmas Tree of Lights campaign. United Way contributions amounted to 14 percent of money raised in 1990 and more than 20 percent was gener~ated from internal resources, the report states.

Tree of Lights chairman Bob Neff said the 1990 campaign raised more than $84,000.

A total of 3,880 people from throughout the Southeast Missouri area were given food, toys and clothing through the program. Neff set the goal of the 1991 campaign at $100,000.

In addition, last year the Salvation Army assisted nearly 7,000 people with food, lodging, transportation, blankets, school supplies and other needs. Programs such as Easter and Thanksgiving dinners, summer day camp, Meals With Friends and disaster services helped about 17,000 people.

Others honored for contributions were the Breakfast Optimists Club, Telephone Pioneers, Cape Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Salvation Army Advisory Board, Circle K Club, West Park Mall, Southwestern Bell, the United Way, Schnucks, Ford Groves, KFVS-12, The Southeast Missourian, KZIM, K103, KGMO/KAPE, KTXI and KGIR.

Neff and Jay Quesenberry were given an award for heading the Tree of Lights Campaign, and long-time advisory board member Russell Fowler was honored for his work with the organization.