As reported earlier, the Manhattan Salvation Army Thrift Store is dealing with a $150,000 fire from this past weekend.
According to Major Jerry Curttright, the current officer, because of the fire both the thrift store and the Community Care office have been closed.
However, the office should be able to be opened within the next few days after a replacement door has been installed and the office cleaned.
The fire also caused the church service on Sunday to be relocated.
“The Lord provided on Sunday though, because we couldn’t have service there and AJ’s Pizzaria came over and said what can they do for us,” recounted Curttright. “We said, ‘Well, we need a place for church’ and they allowed us to come over into their patio and have church service.”
At this point, they are still in search of other locations to house the thrift store.
“We are currently looking for a temporary location to operate out of until we are able to reopen the thrift store,” said Major Charles Smith, divisional commander of the Salvation Army for Kansas and Western Missouri. “Revenue from our thrift store helps fund the many community programs and social services we provide to assist people in need in Manhattan.”
The fire is still under investigation as a burglary and arson. The damage is estimated at more than $150,000.
