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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview With Todd Bassett

Aired May 18, 2003 - 08:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


ROBIN MEADE, CNN ANCHOR: From the U.S. Army to the Salvation Army, both are working overtime these days, but on different fronts. Stats show that more and more people are seeking help from the Salvation Army; a record 42 million sought assistance last year. They asked for meals, goods, social services, even job referrals.
The National Commander of the Salvation Army Todd Bassett is joining us now live from Washington.

And commissioner Bassett, we do appreciate your time. What are the needs of the people coming to you in this struggling economy?

CMMDR. TODD BASSETT, THE SALVATION ARMY: Well, certainly the very basic of necessities: food, clothing, shelter, as well as the employment counseling. Last year, the Salvation Army served 60 million meals to those in need, as well as providing 10 million nights of lodging for people who were homeless.

MEADE: You know, it's an interesting note; too, I think that the past donors, the people that have been helping you out, are now coming to you in need? So how do you balance that, because obviously, you needed their helping hand, as well?

BASSETT: Well, that really is a big challenge. And -- and knowing that people who, in the past, had been giving us the support that we need, now are in need of the support that we can give them. And the plus side of that is that some of these people come saying, can I volunteer? Can you use me in some way, realizing that we can't pay them. But they can become the servers at our soup kitchens, and assisting with us -- us with other programs at our facilities.

MEADE: You know, I guess, if you had more people coming for assistance, which I believe was 4.3 million more, yet you had a 3 percent decrease in the donations. It doesn't take a mathematician to find out there's got to be a strain there. So in all of the types of services that you provide, have you had to kind of cut down on anything, or no?

BASSETT: Well, there certainly are some areas that we had to cut back, simply by virtue of the figures. But in terms of basic services to individuals, we have tried our very best not to cut back on providing those basic services.

MEADE: You know -- in what way does the Salvation Army help them, because I know a lot of us are familiar, obviously, with the Holiday Kettle Collection in front of stores. Or may think of the Salvation Army as a place to donate, perhaps, used, but in good condition clothes. But you provide many other services. Let's talk about those.

BASSETT: There's no question. I think one of the under -- least understood programs is the fact that almost every Salvation Army Center conducts character building and social group development activities for children and after school programs. We are reaching out to families in order to assist them in strengthening their home, their marriage, and their relationships. And this is taking place right across the country.

On the other side of that spectrum, of course, is our drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, which is a very important part of the service that we provide. And then in the middle of these two extremes, there is the disaster services. You would know that the Salvation Army was the very last not-for-profit at the World Trades Centers location, at ground zero, providing literally millions of meals, during the 10 months of that recovery program.

MEADE: Commissioner Bassett, our viewers could be on both sides of this. There could be people in need, or they could be people wishing to help out Salvation Army who could they help out, financially, or with their own time?

BASSETT: Well, there's never a question that we need the kind of finances that will allow us to continue to serve 42 million people. And that's a very demanding challenge for us. But there's always an opportunity for volunteer services. Heavy volunteer expectations at Christmas time, of course, when we serve nearly 6 million people.

But throughout the year every Salvation Army location...

MEADE: OK.

BASSETT: ... we need volunteers.

MEADE: All right. Commissioner Bassett, I'm sure many people thank you for your good works, and take care. Thanks for your time.

BASSETT: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired May 18, 2003 - 08:41   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ROBIN MEADE, CNN ANCHOR: From the U.S. Army to the Salvation Army, both are working overtime these days, but on different fronts. Stats show that more and more people are seeking help from the Salvation Army; a record 42 million sought assistance last year. They asked for meals, goods, social services, even job referrals.
The National Commander of the Salvation Army Todd Bassett is joining us now live from Washington.

And commissioner Bassett, we do appreciate your time. What are the needs of the people coming to you in this struggling economy?

CMMDR. TODD BASSETT, THE SALVATION ARMY: Well, certainly the very basic of necessities: food, clothing, shelter, as well as the employment counseling. Last year, the Salvation Army served 60 million meals to those in need, as well as providing 10 million nights of lodging for people who were homeless.

MEADE: You know, it's an interesting note; too, I think that the past donors, the people that have been helping you out, are now coming to you in need? So how do you balance that, because obviously, you needed their helping hand, as well?

BASSETT: Well, that really is a big challenge. And -- and knowing that people who, in the past, had been giving us the support that we need, now are in need of the support that we can give them. And the plus side of that is that some of these people come saying, can I volunteer? Can you use me in some way, realizing that we can't pay them. But they can become the servers at our soup kitchens, and assisting with us -- us with other programs at our facilities.

MEADE: You know, I guess, if you had more people coming for assistance, which I believe was 4.3 million more, yet you had a 3 percent decrease in the donations. It doesn't take a mathematician to find out there's got to be a strain there. So in all of the types of services that you provide, have you had to kind of cut down on anything, or no?

BASSETT: Well, there certainly are some areas that we had to cut back, simply by virtue of the figures. But in terms of basic services to individuals, we have tried our very best not to cut back on providing those basic services.

MEADE: You know -- in what way does the Salvation Army help them, because I know a lot of us are familiar, obviously, with the Holiday Kettle Collection in front of stores. Or may think of the Salvation Army as a place to donate, perhaps, used, but in good condition clothes. But you provide many other services. Let's talk about those.

BASSETT: There's no question. I think one of the under -- least understood programs is the fact that almost every Salvation Army Center conducts character building and social group development activities for children and after school programs. We are reaching out to families in order to assist them in strengthening their home, their marriage, and their relationships. And this is taking place right across the country.

On the other side of that spectrum, of course, is our drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, which is a very important part of the service that we provide. And then in the middle of these two extremes, there is the disaster services. You would know that the Salvation Army was the very last not-for-profit at the World Trades Centers location, at ground zero, providing literally millions of meals, during the 10 months of that recovery program.

MEADE: Commissioner Bassett, our viewers could be on both sides of this. There could be people in need, or they could be people wishing to help out Salvation Army who could they help out, financially, or with their own time?

BASSETT: Well, there's never a question that we need the kind of finances that will allow us to continue to serve 42 million people. And that's a very demanding challenge for us. But there's always an opportunity for volunteer services. Heavy volunteer expectations at Christmas time, of course, when we serve nearly 6 million people.

But throughout the year every Salvation Army location...

MEADE: OK.

BASSETT: ... we need volunteers.

MEADE: All right. Commissioner Bassett, I'm sure many people thank you for your good works, and take care. Thanks for your time.

BASSETT: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com