Rotary Raising Money for Salvation Army to Build Homeless Hygiene Center

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In an effort to provide more services to the local homeless population, The Salvation Army in Centralia plans to build a hygiene center to provide restrooms, showers and a laundry facility.

The proposed Salvation Army Rotary Hygiene Center will be located on the North Gold Street property that currently houses The Salvation Army and would include a 32-by-30-foot building.

DeWayne Halstad, commanding officer of The Salvation Army, said the hygienic center would address a prominent need in the area. 

On an average day, the organization services between 30 and 50 people, many of whom are homeless. As Halstad mentioned, public bathrooms are scarce throughout the city and many businesses are reluctant to let the homeless use their facilities. The center would help provide a safe place for those in need.

“It’s all about helping to maintain dignity,” he said. “It’s hard to find a job if you smell, so they can come and take a shower, wash their clothes if they have spare clothes, and just clean up to help them feel better.” 

Much of the needed funds were left to The Salvation Army through a legacy donation, which was specified for the project, but the annual Tri-Club Rotary auction hopes to raise even more for the project.

Approximately $200,000 is needed to create the facility, and more funds will be required to pay the additional $500 to $800 increase in operating costs to run the building.

Rotary Director Rose Bowman said the Rotary Clubs of Centralia, Chehalis and Twin Cities formed a nonprofit organization in 1998 to help fund projects within the community. In previous years, the organization has raised funds to launch Pope’s Kids Place, as well as the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis.

This year, the club set its sights on the hygiene center after Halstad proposed the idea in a meeting. The auction, which has raised as much as $60,000 in previous years, will help aide a problem that Bowman said is prevalent throughout the county.

“It’s sad but homelessness is an inevitable fact in our community,” she said. “… We really do think providing a shower for them to clean up is very worthy and we’re happy that we can help make something like this happen.” 



The Tri-Club Auction is scheduled for Friday, May 8, and will include a silent and live auction, as well as speciality raffles. Prizes include Seahawks tickets, vacation getaways and fishing trips.

Bowman hopes to see anywhere between 225 and 250 people attend the annual event to help raise money for the center.

“We just really are honored that the community has been so supportive of our efforts over the years,” she said. “We are excited we can work together and make so many things happen, help those in need and work on projects in the community.” 

Halstad shared a number of stories from local homeless people who said a hygiene center would be beneficial to the homeless population. One man recorded during an interview with the commanding officer said it was “a hardship” to find the time and place to shower. 

The center would be volunteer-driven and would be built in a durable way to ensure damage could not be done to the facility. 

In previous years, The Salvation Army offered a shower and restroom for the homeless population to use, but Halstad said the building was abused because of some unstable people who used it. 

The new facility would help alleviate some of the problems that were experienced earlier. 

“I think it’s a positive thing for our community,” Halstad said, adding that a facility like this would keep the homeless out of local retailer’s restrooms. The building is expected to be completed by the end of summer.