The New Kensington Salvation Army will use a $250,000 grant to support a youth program aimed at young people who have committed first-time, nonviolent offenses.

The Salvation Army announced Wednesday it will use the grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation for its Bridging the Gap program.

“We are grateful to the Richard King Mellon Foundation for supporting our mission and continuing to invest in the future of New Kensington,” said Maj. Scott Flanders of the Salvation Army New Kensington Worship and Service Center. “There are currently no other comparable programs in the greater New Kensington area. It is a blessing to be able to have a positive impact on the next generation.”

Bridging the Gap is a 12-week life skills program for at-risk and high-risk youth ages 12 to 17 who have committed a first-time, nonviolent offense. The program’s goals are to decrease repeat offenses, improve academic achievement, reduce absenteeism and enrich the lives of each participant.

The program covers communication, money management, education, rights and responsibilities, employment, culture and diversity, relationships, conflict resolution and health.

Participants are referred by law enforcement, counselors, social workers and school systems.

Nationally, the program dates to 1996 in Massachusetts and Philadelphia, Salvation Army spokeswoman Nicole Harrell said. It was launched in Western Pennsylvania in 2012.

Nearly 50 youth have completed the program at the Salvation Army in New Kensington. As of 2019, not one of the program’s graduates has offended again, she said.

The program had been put on hold in 2021 because of the pandemic.

It will be offered again this fall.

Sam Reiman, director of the Richard King Mellon Foundation, said the foundation has been working to create greater economic opportunity in New Kensington. That includes its work with Penn State New Kensington on the Digital Foundry at New Kensington, which had a grand opening June 1 and is planning a community open house from 5 to 8 p.m. June 24 during Fridays on Fifth.

“The program from the Salvation Army is an important complement to those efforts, as it seeks to help young people to be in a position to take advantage of those new economic opportunities,” Reiman said.

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