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The Salvation Army of Troup County is planning to set up a satellite location in downtown Hogansville as an endeavor to better serve that part of the Troup County community.

“Because [Troup County] doesn’t have public transportation, a lot of people have trouble getting [to the LaGrange location],” said Lisa Martin, director of the Salvation Army of Troup County, on Monday. “So we’re going to go down [to Hogansville] a couple of times a month. We’ve already organized the location. We’re just working on getting it all setup.”

Martin also said a West Point satellite location is in the works as well.

Martin announced this project during the Troup County Homeless Coalition meeting on Aug. 13, stating that the organization’s new location would help assist residents with food, utilities, clothing and rental assistance.

She further added that the Salvation Army would have additional funds on Sept. 1 to assist those affected by COVID. The COVID-19 pandemic was a major contributor to get the satellite location project off the ground, Martin said. “With COVID, it’s just been horrific,” she said.

“The need had been there, and it’s been a process. I think a lot of people thought by 2021 we wouldn’t be in this position, but we still are. When it comes to our social services calls…I can’t even tell you the calls we get. Even last year, those that we were able to help increased by 110 % This year, I have no idea what the numbers are going to be. When you put all that together, people need help in their location.”

The location also has the potential to help residents on the Merriweather County border, as the Troup County Salvation Army is the closest one to that area, Martin said.

“We help them at Christmas and we send them a lot of toys,” she said. “They’re still closer to us than even the Newnan location.”

Martin hopes to have the location up and running before Christmas but expects a more solid opening would be by the end of 2021.In the meantime, she asks for community support in the form of prayers. The organization is also looking for a truck driver to work in its warehouse, as well as a donatable space for its Toys for Tots drive for the first and second week of December.

The Salvation Army of Troup County can be located at  202 Church St. or by calling (706) 884-6842