According to a study at Columbia University funded by the National Institute of Health,  4.5% of all deaths in the U.S. can be attributed to poverty (Link to research). And this was before the COVID-19 outbreak! What is the cause of poverty? What does poverty look like in rural, western Illinois? What can we do to combat poverty? To help respond to these questions, we turned to Lt. Sarah B. Eddy of the Canton, IL Salvation Army.

With the mission “Here for Good,” the Salvation Army in Canton, IL has been committed to serving communities in Fulton County for the past 129 years!  Under the direction of corps commander, Lt. Sarah B. Eddy, the Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Although the Salvation Army’s service to the community goes beyond responding to disasters, they are especially equipped to offer their services when tragedy strikes. However, Lt. Sarah will be the first to tell you that the current pandemic is entirely different than anything she’s experienced. What are social services like the Salvation Army doing to help the most vulnerable members of our community? How do we respond to a disaster that is unlike any we’ve seen?

Please enjoy and share this conversation as Lt. Sarah B. Eddy responds to these questions and more.  If you have any questions for Sarah, please don’t hesitate to comment on this post or on our Facebook page. To contact  Lt. Sarah directly, call or email her at sarah.eddy@usc.salvationarmy.org.

Helpful links mentioned in our interview:

• Recent article about the Canton, IL Salvation Army’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic
• Poverty Research from Columbia University funded by the National Institute of Health – “How many U.S. deaths are caused by poverty?”
• William Booth and the History of the Salvation Army

Audio clips included in this episode come from the following:

• Freesound.org
• Documentary film – “Hidden Homelessness in Rural Illinois” produced by Monmouth College TV
• Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s March 31, 2020 Press Conference announcing his executive order to extend stay at home guidelines through April 30, 2020. In this address, Governor Pritzker gives advice to high school students in Illinois.
• The Today Show’s 2016 coverage of the Canton, IL Gas Explosion referenced in Lt. Sarah’s interview