You might think of a thrift store, a soup
kitchen, or a red kettle at Christmas time, but whatever comes to mind when you
think of The Salvation Army – it’s more than you’d
expect.
The Salvation Army is currently active in over
126 countries and recently celebrated their 150th
anniversary. Originally titled, “East London Christian Mission,” what
started as a simple Christian outreach on the streets of London by evangelists William and Catherine Booth, eventually came
to be an internationally recognized non-profit organization and
church. When most people think of The Salvation Army charity
usually is what comes to mind. The Salvation Army is often recognized
during Christmas time because of their iconic Red Kettles for donations and
their “Angel Tree” program where Christmas presents are collected and
redistributed to underprivileged children. Although these services are a
large part of the organization, they are only a small fraction of what the
Salvation Army does. With thousands of churches, addiction rehabilitation
centers, homeless shelters, spiritual support, soup kitchens, counseling
services, free music and dance lessons (often taught by professionally trained
musicians and dancers), after school programs, personal finance support, and
disaster relief services, this multi-faceted non-profit provides endless
support to people and communities all over the world.
Since I started attending and volunteering at a
local Salvation Army church from a young age, I have had the privilege of
experiencing and being involved in the outreach of The Army for many years.
Like any organization or church, it can have many pros and cons, but the
mission of The Army far outweighs any of the negative aspects that it can
have. It has been amazing to see what the organization has done to change
the lives of countless people in and out of my community, but it has also been
incredible to see what it has done in my life. Without The Army I would
not be half the person that I am today. I have had the privilege of traveling out of the country multiple times thanks to The Army. I have taught, performed, competed, and learned because of programs within the organization. I can dance, teach, and play instruments
because of people within the organization that have constantly taught,
mentored, and supported me. I am member of Eastern’s Leadership Fellows
Program thanks to the recommendation letter of Dr. Harold Burgmayer – a mentor
that I came to know through The Army! The Army has provided me with more
opportunities and resources than I could ever imagine possible, and for that, I
am thankful.
Fun fact: Did you know that Mr. Bean has lead a Salvation Army Band? Here is a fun little video of Mr. Bean assisting
The Salvation Army in raising donations during Christmas time! :)
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