SALISBURY — When a family loses a home to fire, the fire department is there to extinguish it. The Red Cross is there to provide for immediate needs. And after it’s all said and done, the Salvation Army of Rowan is there.

The Salvation Army provides clothing and furniture when a family is ready to start over. The resale store can also be a first stop for people looking to get back into the workforce or moms looking for school uniforms. The agency has met the needs of many in Rowan County, but it is experiencing a shortage of items at the store. Items that are needed are things like clothing of all sizes, furniture and home goods, said Lt. Josh Morse, director of the local chapter.

The Salvation Army Family Store provides services to the community by turning reusable goods into much needed funding, Morse said. The store is located at 1400 West Jake Alexander Blvd. On Wednesdays, the store marks clothing 50 percent off.

Proceeds generated at the Family Store go into many outreach programs and services managed by the Social Ministries department. The Salvation Army is able to provide assistance with rent or mortgages, groceries, utilities, furniture, prescription medication or clothing.

The agency relies on the generosity of the community to help those who have fallen on difficult times, Morse said.

He believes the shortage has a lot to do with the economy. People who would normally have given their old things when they bought new haven’t been buying. Others are holding yard sales instead of donating.

But the economy has also increased the need, Morse said.

“The amount of people coming in for vouchers has increased,” he said.

“Clothing is a big thing for us. The biggest selling item is women’s clothes,” Morse said.

The store provides clothing to people for jobs, school uniforms, victims of domestic violence leaving the shelter.

You don’t have to receive other assistance from the Salvation Army in order to qualify for a clothing voucher, Morse said.

A person who needs assistance in obtaining clothing can go to the agency’s office at 620 Bringle Ferry Road and take with them information that proves need.

Morse said on a typical Monday, volunteers like Roxanne Linker sort 100 bags of clothing. This week, Linker only had six.

The bag stock room, Morse said, is usually piled high, but on Monday a few glass containers and other small items sat on a table. The home goods aisle that normally has rows of glassware, dishes, cups and saucers held only a few items. Morse said he’d love to have enough furniture to help 10 families, right now he has enough for two.

Small donations that fit into a car can be taken to the store. The Salvation Army will pick up larger items.

The Salvation Army is an international movement, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church and a Rowan County United Way partner agency.

The Salvation Army Family Store is open Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and provides furnishings, clothing, accessories, household goods and other necessities to the public. For more information about large donated items, contact the Bringle Ferry Road office at 704-636-6491.