HAGERSTOWN, Md. – The Salvation Army of Hagerstown has launched a $500,000 Major Gifts Campaign to help close the funding gap left by a fire that heavily damaged its Dual Highway Thrift Store earlier this year to keep its core programs fully staffed and open.
The Dual Highway store’s sales have historically funded a significant share of The Salvation Army’s local programs — including the Manna Soup Kitchen, the Women and Children’s Shelter and the Red Shield Youth Center.
The fire, which started when a battery ignited in the store’s basement storage area, caused significant damage to the southeast corner of the property. That entire section of the building must be rebuilt.
The Salvation Army has hired a contractor who is now working with engineers on repairs. Based on their tentative timeline, the Dual Highway store is expected to reopen in fall 2027. In the meantime, The Salvation Army is also working toward opening a second, smaller store location — with hopes of having it open by the end of the calendar year.
“This has never just been about a store,” said Maj. Mark Van Meter, Hagerstown Corps officer. “Our store provides critical needs for clients and good finds for the bargain seeker. Another purpose of the store is to fund our many community programs. When the Hagerstown Store moved to Dual Highway our community loved the new location. Consequently, we were able to provide more services. With the absence of the store, our penny pinching is beginning to hurt.”
The Salvation Army served 41,938 people in Washington County last fiscal year, and it remains committed to keeping every one of those programs open and fully staffed while it rebuilds. The $500,000 campaign is what makes that possible, filling the revenue gap that insurance, which covers only the building repairs, does not.
A $50,000 matching gift from the God’s Grace Fund is live now, meaning every gift made toward the campaign is matched dollar for dollar until the match is met.
Community members can support the campaign by visiting tinyurl.com/SAHagerstownGive. Checks can be made out to The Salvation Army of Hagerstown and mailed to P.O. Box 747, Hagerstown, 21740.
While the Dual Highway store remains closed, The Salvation Army continues to accept donated goods at the store’s loading dock, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 1310 Dual Highway. Further updates will be shared as available.
