For years the Salvation Army has earmarked the month of May as Red Shield Appeal month.

It is the time when the Christian charity attempts to raise funds to support its worthwhile community programmes.

This year the Salvation Army hopes to raise $350,000 between this month's campaign and their Christmas appeal.

The Salvation Army's 1997 Annual Report predicted that it will cost $2,437,200 to operate all of their ministries and community services for 1998.

All of the funds raised during this month's campaign will go towards operating the Salvation Army's 12 social programmes which help thousands of Bermudians each year.

During 1997, there was an extensive demand for the Salvation Army's services with the Harbour Light Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre and the Emergency Housing Complex topping the list.

The Harbour Light Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre attempts to rehabilitate the "whole man'' physically, spiritually, mentally and socially.

The 12-bed facility was a haven for 3,650 people last year, with 69 clients taking part in the rehabilitation programme.

And in 1997, the Centre launched a new programme -- a Soup Run on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. A total of 112 `soup runs' were made between February and December of last year serving 2,648 homeless individuals.

The Salvation Army's Emergency Housing Complex and Day Centre for the Homeless on Marsh Lane in Pembroke provides 80 beds for men and women in need of temporary emergency shelter.

Individuals are provided with two meals a day and can receive counselling during their stay.

In 1997, 20,951 beds were occupied and 41,902 meals were served to those staying at the facility which is staffed 24 hours a day by ten full and part time workers.

The Family Services branch of the Salvation Army, which strictly provides emergency aid to families, helped 2,269 households last year, with 798 families receiving assistance at Christmas last year.

Family Services also helped 2,599 children, distributed 2,500 toys and provided 1,200 clothes and furniture to people in 1997.

The League of Mercy -- a group of volunteer Christian workers who visit the sick, shut-in, elderly, hospitalised and imprisoned -- clocked 1,678 visitation hours last year.

The volunteers made 708 visits to private homes and regularly drop by 12 local institutions.

Throughout last year, some 1,350 were served through the Salvation Army's Golden Milers programme which meet the first Thursday of every month for food and fellowship.

And the Youth and Camping Ministries held eight camping trips last year attended by 218 children. This division of the Salvation Army provides camping experiences to local teens and children every summer.

During the Red Shield Campaign Kick-Off and Flag Raising Ceremony earlier this month, Salvation Army Divisional Commander Major Alfred Richardson reminded the audience that the downtrodden had simple, basic needs.

"Food, clothing and shelter,'' he pointed out. "Is that too much to ask?''