Guzman announces $238,062 grant awarded to the Reading Salvation Army to address gun violence

READING, Dec. 1 – State Rep. Manny Guzman, D-Berks, today announced the awarding of a $238,062 grant to support the Reading Salvation Army’s initiative of implementing trauma-informed group sessions to support children and their families affected by gun violence.

This grant was awarded through the Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program and administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

“Gun violence continues to plague our streets and has caused unimaginable suffering for those that have experienced this trauma firsthand,” Guzman said. “This grant award will help our community take a more proactive approach in preventing and ultimately ceasing gun violence. Having personally experienced the great things the Salvation Army has done for our community here in Reading, I know this money will be put to good use.”

Guzman went onto say, “While this influx of money is a step in the right direction to continue addressing the gun violence epidemic, it does not go far enough. We need concreate legislative action in Harrisburg that will play a substantial role in reducing the destruction that gun violence has caused in our community. I look forward to bringing these initiatives to the forefront with my colleagues in Harrisburg with the objective of saving as many lives as possible.” 

The Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program provides grants to address community violence throughout the commonwealth with the underlying goal of prioritizing support for effective local intervening and preventive measures to stop gun and group violence that is occurring across the state.

The most recent round of awards from this fund totaled $15.7 million and has been spread out across sectors of the commonwealth with a high rate of community violence.  More information about the grants is available here.

Anyone seeking more information can reach Guzman’s office at 610-376-1529.