Salvation Army hosts free HOPE Blooms Festival in Traverse City

The Salvation Army Traverse City Corps will open its doors for a free HOPE Blooms Festival on Friday, May 15, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1239 Barlow Street in Traverse City, giving families a chance to enjoy an afternoon of activities while learning about the help available there year-round.

The event is being promoted as a Family Festival & Community Open House, with face painting, an inflatable archery game, a bounce house, a family photo opportunity and a pantry shopping spree. The mix of games and service information is meant to make the Corps’ work more visible to residents who may not know how much support is available inside the building on Barlow Street.

That support reaches well beyond Grand Traverse County. The Salvation Army Traverse City Corps says it serves Benzie, Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties, with general hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a contact number of (231) 946-4644. People seeking emergency assistance are seen by appointment at the Traverse City Community Center and receive individualized help from a case worker.

The local branch says its services include food assistance, community meals, a free food market, pantry support, youth programs and emergency assistance. It also says the Traverse City operation helps provide food to close to 30,000 people each year through its free food market, food pantry, community meals and holiday meal programs, a reminder of the scale of need in the region.

The Corps says it has been serving the area since 1894. A 2019 anniversary post marked 125 years of local service and pointed back to a February 22, 1894 Grand Traverse Herald reference to the branch starting in town, underscoring how long the organization has been part of the community’s safety net.

For residents looking for a free outing, the festival offers that. For families dealing with food costs, utility bills, vehicle repairs or other short-term emergencies, it also serves as a direct introduction to the Salvation Army’s casework and basic-needs programs at 1239 Barlow Street.