Salvation Army Today

Camp Rappahannock Thanks First Responders

For the second time in just a few months, the Richardsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue visited The Salvation Army’s Camp Rappahannock in Virginia. This second visit was at the invitation of The Salvation Army to share their praise and thanks for the volunteers’ efforts to extinguish a forest fire on September 7th of this year.
 
Major Bobby Parker of The Salvation Army said, “The fire was only 200 yards from the tree line behind the chapel,” “We were thankful for the multi-agency response from local and state emergency personnel.”
 
In addition to the Richardsville team, nine fire and forestry teams worked toward containing the blaze. That included the Virginia Department of Forestry, which assisted with digging trenches around the camp perimeter to contain the flames over 60 acres. Water was pumped from the camp’s lake with a drone team monitoring active fires, wind shifts, and threatened areas.
 
“We were very blessed,” said Lenny Grove, Camp Rappahannock facilities supervisor. “It was like God was blowing it back in the other direction away from camp. Thanks to all those firefighters for coming out fast and getting it under control.”
 
For more stories like these, visit SALVATIONARMYDOUNCAST.ORG/SATODAY

Covered By Prayer – Literally

For nearly 10 years, prayer warriors and skilled crafters of the Houston Northwest Salvation Army church in Texas have been employing a ministry begun by another denomination.
 
“Prayers & Squares” was started in 1992 at the Hope United Methodist Church in San Diego, CA. In the 30 years since its inception, chapters have emerged all around the world- including quilters at the Houston Northwest Church who took up the ministry about a decade ago. The purpose of Prayers & Squares is to promote prayer and provide comfort through the construction and distribution of handmade quilts.
 
The way the ministry works is simple. Prayer requests are submitted, then a quilt is prepared with dozens of loose stings left across the stitching. One at a time, each quilt is placed on display in the church foyer until it’s deemed completed. On Sundays, the church family has the opportunity to learn about the prayer requests and then come and add a knot to the quilt. “As each knot is tied, a prayer is offered for the person in need.
The result is a beautiful quilt with many tiny knots, each symbolizing a prayer said for the recipient.
 
Scores of quilts have been given out as a source of hope for many going through cancer treatments, grieving the loss of a loved one, or those facing difficult circumstances.
 
For more stories like these, visit SALVATIONARMYSOUNDCAST.ORG/SATODAY
 

CMA CGM Foundation partners with The Salvation Army to give away 1,500 turkeys

On November 10th, hundreds of people lined up by foot and car outside of The Salvation Army Siemon Family Youth Community Center in South Los Angeles—their anticipation fueled by the promise of a free turkey and sides for their upcoming Thanksgiving feast.
 
The distribution emerged as the CMA CGM Foundation donated 1,500 16-lb turkeys and essential food staple bags to The Salvation Army.
 
The event was barrier-free, with no required sign-ups or ID checks.
The initiative is part of the CMA CGM Foundation’s “Giving Across North America” campaign, which expects to provide 133,000 meals across the US and Canada during this holiday season.
 
As food insecurity is on the rise- The Salvation Army continues to do all it can to feed our neighbors in need.
 
Divisional Secretary for Metro Los Angeles Major Lisa Barnes said the challenges of hunger are evident as people lined up for the giveaway at 6 a.m., over four hours before the distribution began.
 
If you’re in need of assistance, or if you’d like to volunteer, visit SALVATIONARMYUSA.ORG to find a location near you.
 

Thank you to our volunteers

The Salvation Army benefits greatly from volunteers, as we rely heavily on volunteerism to support our programs and services. The Salvation Army, as a Christian organization, offers a unique opportunity for volunteers to connect with people who share the same faith. And- Additionally, the Army provides another avenue for them to actively share their faith with the community.
 
Whether you're assisting at a shelter, organizing food drives, or ringing bells at a Red Kettle, every act of volunteerism contributes to creating positive change. By lending a helping hand, you'll have the chance to uplift individuals and families facing adversity, offering them hope, resources, and a pathway to a better future.
 
This Christmas season- we want to say thank you to everyone who has volunteered with The Salvation Army this year. You have donated your time, energy, and resources to help your neighbors in need.
Thank you for making a difference in so many people’s lives and offering hope to a world in desperate need of it.
 
If you’re interested in volunteering with The Salvation Army, visit https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/volunteer/
 
 
 
 

The Maui County Angel Tree Distribution

The Maui County Angel Tree Distribution event for The Salvation Army made Christmas extra special for more than 1,800 Maui children and their families. The distribution event ran from November 18th to 19th at a special Winter Wonderland scene at the local Walmart.
 
The Salvation Army’s beloved Angel Tree tradition strives to make the holiday season a little brighter for families who are facing financial difficulties and are struggling to make ends meet, by providing Christmas gifts for their kids. Walmart donated more than 30,000 toys to The Salvation Army for this event and other efforts this holiday season.
 
Captain Steven Howard,  The local Salvation Army Corps Officer and Maui County Coordinator said, “We’re grateful to share a very special relationship with Walmart and their generosity made all of this possible. It gives us great pleasure to bring some Christmas joy and cheer to Maui families in need this holiday season, especially with the difficulties they have recently endured.”
 
Gift bags filled with toys were distributed to each child present at the event.
 
Organizers said the event showcased the strength and resilience of Maui in the face of adversity, while instilling hope and joy for children and their families.

How The Salvation Army is paving a ‘pathway of hope’ in Silicon Valley

San Jose is among the richest cities in the United States, if not the richest. But even in Santa Clara County’s Silicon Valley, people fall on hard times and need help.
 
When they do, The Salvation Army is there to help, providing shelter at Emmanuel House and food through a daily drive-through distribution and senior nutrition program at its Silicon Valley campus.
 
The campus also houses the tri-lingual San Jose church, with services in English, Spanish and Mandarin. And in the coming years, The Salvation Army plans to do even more from this central location, which oversees all Salvation Army operations in Santa Clara County.
 
Adjacent to the campus, Emmanuel House provides both overnight shelter and transitional living for men in need.
 
There’s no wait for those who show up at the check-in time with identification—something that’s not always possible through the Santa Clara County hotline.
 
To learn more about The Salvation Army in Silicon Valley, visit https://siliconvalley.salvationarmy.org/

MEXICO TERRITORY SPRINGS INTO ACTION AS CATEGORY 5 STORM HITS THE ACAPULCO

The people of Acapulco are still feeling the effects of Hurricane Otis, the Category 5 storm which hit the city of Acapulco in Mexico in late October.
The hurricane sustained winds of over 160 miles per hour causing severe damage to the city as well as Salvation Army facilities including the Acapulco Children’s Home. Children from the children’s home were evacuated to safe locations.
Fallen trees and damaged buildings had cut off essential services including electricity, major roads, drinking water and communications.
The Salvation Army’s Mexico Territory and International Emergency Services (IES) team at had been closely monitoring the situation and were able to act as soon as the storm hit.
The emergency canteen has distributed more than 3,500 meals* since it opened.
 
The IES team, in conjunction with the Mexico Territory, have begun actioning short- and long-term response plans and are working closely with government bodies and local authorities.
 
For more information on The Salvation Army’s response and to offer your support, visit DISASTER.SALVATIONARMYUSA.ORG

Salvation Army in Yellowknife Gears up to Provide Christmas Support for Neighbors in Need

Just a couple of months ago, residents of Yellowknife, in Northwest Canada were forced to leave everything behind and evacuate to escape the devastating wildfires that affected the region.
Today, as most residents settle back into their daily lives, The Salvation Army is gearing up to make sure everyone in the community has everything they need this Christmas season.
From Nov. 23 to Dec. 23, The Salvation Army in Yellowknife’s Christmas Kettle Campaign will be underway. Executive Director, Major Tony Brushett, says the goal for this year is to raise $45,000, which he predicts will help them cover the cost of their Christmas programs.
This year, the donations toward Yellowknife’s Kettle Campaign will be crucial to ensure they can help everyone in need. Due to the evacuations, more residents of the city will find themselves needing extra support during this year’s holiday season.
While donations are important, The Salvation Army is also looking for eager volunteers to cover hundreds of kettle shift hours. Major Brushett, speaking from personal experience, says that it is an opportunity for lots of positive interactions to take place within the community.
 
To offer your support or find volunteer opportunities near you, visit SALVATIONARMY.ORG

Hispanic Women’s Ministry in Middletown NY Zumba!

Members of the Hispanic women’s ministry at The Salvation Army in Middletown, N.Y., have been enjoying weekly Zumba classes for the past year.
The Hispanic women’s ministry, led by Enid Ortiz, has offered several activities for members, including bingo, crafts, and jewelry-making, as everyone engages in Christian fellowship.
When Orlando Torres, a community health outreach coordinator for Orange County, N.Y., and a licensed Zumba instructor, offered to teach it at the corps more than a year ago, the women kicked up their heels for the idea. Zumba is a Latin-inspired fitness dance program. But in this class, Orlando incorporates different aspects of prayer and worship.
The church pastor, Captain Andrew Allen said About 75% to 80% of the people coming to the corps for social services speak Spanish and are invited to Zumba.
People may come to the corps for social services, but the church tries to connect everyone they can to experience meaningful Christian fellowship.
Captain Allen said “We have seen a big crossover from social services to getting involved in the Hispanic women’s ministries program. Many women who come to that program also volunteer at the corps during the day to help with food pantry and things like that.”

The Salvation Army in Fort Frances Offers Cooking Lessons for Clients Experiencing Disabilities

Since joining The Salvation Army, Community and Family Services Coordinator, Ryan Daw, has been the driving force behind a few new programs in Fort Frances, Ontario. One of his most successful initiatives has been a cooking class for clients experiencing disabilities.
Ryan leads the program. And he credits his previous experience of working in homeless shelters for giving him the skills to cook and now to be able to teach this skill to others.
The lessons take place at Front Street Manor, a location that offers transitional housing run by Riverside Health. They were excited to let The Salvation Army use their premises for this great initiative.
The program runs twice a month, and it averages between 10 to 12 clients in each session.
 
After each session, clients not only leave with a new skill but also with some extra ingredients to put their skills to the test at home.