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Long Beach Citadel responds to growing emergencies
by Christopher Golden –
Across the Western Territory, social services ministries of The Salvation Army are seeking ways to deal with the influx of individuals and families in emergency need of food and other items.
Barbara Taft, family services coordinator for the Long Beach Citadel Corps, noted, “We are seeing an increase of over 100 percent with many first time families who never applied for assistance before; the economy has really put people in a bind.”
Gail Crandall, assistant to the commanding officer, has been fielding phone calls from a community that loves and supports The Salvation Army. Crandall even received a phone call from Madison Clark, a freshman at Valley Christian School in nearby Cerritos. Madison and her brother saw that the Long Beach Salvation Army needed food for the pantry so she and her brother organized a neighborhood food drive with the support of her parents. She raised over 400 pounds of food from her neighbors.
“It is young people like Madison who really make a difference in the community,” said Major Glen Madsen, commanding officer. “She saw a need and wanted to do her part to help people, and she did in a tremendous way.”
As you observe need, take time to pray for your neighborhood and for those individuals who are coming to the Army for assistance. Keep your corps’ social services ministry in prayer as it deals with increased demand. Finally, pray for individuals like Madison who responded to what the Lord laid on her heart to do. May more people do likewise.