Childcare

As the leading anti-poverty organization, The Salvation Army wants to eliminate barriers to employment. For families with young children, that can mean having access to safe, accessible childcare.

Children ages two through five can be enrolled in any of our five licensed childcare centers throughout the city. This service is free to low-income families.

The centers operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. They offer children two nutritious meals and snacks each day, along with educational activities including arts and crafts, music, and outdoor games.

Under the supervision of qualified childcare professionals, children graduate from the program ready to start kindergarten with an educational baseline equivalent to their peers.

If interested in learning more about the childcare program, please contact us at contactgny@use.salvationarmy.org, reach out to the Childcare Program Diector, Carmen Torres, directly at carmen.torres@use.salvationarmy.org, or fill out the contact form below and you will hear back from us soon!

After-School Youth Programming & GAINS

The Salvation Army offers several after school programs that provide tutoring, mentorship, arts, recreation, and enrichment opportunities such as field trips and camping. These programs serve hundreds of students ages 6–18 across Greater New York. We are also excited to offer a new after-school program specifically for middle schoolers at our Brownsville Community Center in Brooklyn. Many alumni return as mentors and leaders, showing the lasting impact these programs have on young people.

Star Lake Camp

Since 1923, Star Lake Camp has served tens of thousands of senior citizens and children from a wide range of backgrounds across the Greater New York area. For many children from low-income urban families, a trip to Star Lake may be their first-time experiencing nature, hiking, swimming in a lake, and the great outdoors. The Salvation Army invites local youth to attend the Star Lake Summer Camp at no cost. This allows the children to continue building their character and learning throughout the summer in a new environment outside their neighborhood. For seniors, a subsidized week at camp may be a rare outing, with time to spend in nature and with friends enriching their lives. No matter the side of camp you are on, youth or senior’s camp, the goal of Star Lake Camp is to foster independence, stimulate creativity, build relationships with peers, and enjoy fellowship in nature.

Music and Creative Arts

Music has been a significant part of The Salvation Army programming since our first band in 1878. Today, The Salvation Army considers music education a crucial part of fulfilling our mission. By providing free, engaging, student-oriented music education to youth, we provide children in under-served neighborhoods with the same opportunities as their wealthier peers.