Salvation Army, River Valley Bank offering budgeting classes

MARQUETTE — Earlier this month, the state of Michigan paid out food assistance benefits for both January and February to ensure those funds were not affected by the federal government shutdown.

However, giving out those funds early could lead to budgeting problems and families might need extra help making it to March.

This is why the Salvation Army of Marquette County is partnering with River Valley Bank to offer half–hour long seminars on personal budgeting.

Attendees of the class that meet the requirements of the food pantry will be given some extra food to last until March, as well as some useful tips for making a budget last.

“How to budget, family budgeting, as well as how to stretch your dollar,” said Captain Doug Winters of the Salvation Army of Marquette County. “Make it go further. So if families do come into either of the seminars we have, we’re going to be offering another amount of food equivalent to another food basket to try to entice them to come in and see the resources that are available to help them budget and make the money go further.”

The first class is scheduled for Thursday, January 31st at 1:30 p.m. at the Marquette Salvation Army.

The second class will take place at the Ishpeming Salvation Army on Wednesday, February 6 at 1:30 p.m.

More classes will be added in the future, and there will even be some classes in the evening. The event is open to the public.