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by Captain Robert L. Rudd –
Lt. Colonel Bettie Love, Golden State Divisional Director of Women’s Organizations, is thinking ahead toward making Christmas happy for low-income children. The Salvation Army hopes to open a centralized 1998 “Toy and Joy Shop” this year–a place where parents can personally select toys for their children without standing in long lines. They are looking for groups and individuals to buy specially discounted dolls and teddy bears and clothe them for December distribution. Bechtel Employees Arts and Crafts Club has purchased the first shipment and will dress them for children in San Francisco’s Mission District. The Army feels that the more personalized the gifts, the more dignity will be involved with their distribution.
FIRST PLACE VOLUNTEER
Captains Frank and Susan Severs, Flagstaff, Ariz., are praising God for an outstanding volunteer, Mrs. Dusty Simmons. She has consistently volunteered 20-30 hours a week in the Family Services office since being enrolled as a Senior soldier in 1995. The Severs also performed Dusty’s marriage in the Army chapel. Thanks, Dusty, for a job well done!
ARMY ON DUTY
As always, The Salvation Army was right on hand to provide assistance to law enforcement teams searching for the men involved in a shooting in Cortez, Colo., recently. Working with the American Legion, Army personnel and volunteers provided meals for the search teams. Earlier, assistance was provided to the 11 families who were evacuated from their homes for safety reasons.
KETTLES FOR CAMP
Salvation Army Week in Phoenix did more than just raise awareness of our programs and services; it was a successful fund raiser as well. One highlight was the appearance of Christmas kettles painted green and stationed outside local Wal-Mart stores for two days. Sheriff Joe Arpaio kicked off the campaign, teaching children from the South Mountain Youth Center (Captains Luis and Abigail Diaz, [then] corps officers) how to make s’mores as they manned the kettle. In just two days, the kettles raised enough scholarship money to send 500 kids to camp!
PRISM MINISTRY
A new outreach ministry has opened doors for The Salvation Army in Klawock, Alaska, where the outpost was reopened in 1997 under the leadership of Captain Londa G. Upshaw. Last year, six women made a decision that would transform their lives when they committed to lose weight following a Christian based weight loss program, Prism. Using workbooks and devotional tapes, the Prism program encourages lifestyle changes by focusing on the relationship with and how each person sees him or herself. This program is open to the public. The group has now expanded into the neighboring community of Craig and has grown to 54 members. Presently, Mitzi Jones leads three groups.
Women and men, Christian and non-Christian, have come together knowing that they must focus on their relationship with God to be successful in losing weight and making a complete lifestyle change.
LOM “CAUGHT DOING GOOD”
Young people from the Oceanside, Calif., Corps went to the nursing home across the street for a service and were caught by Channel 10 News. San Bernardino has been asked to make 80 afghans for the Veterans Outreach Program. These afghans will be for vets who have no family. They report they’ve made 61 already!
Major Dianne Basset, in charge of LOM work at the Riverside Corps, takes her hat off to Toni Dorin. Toni does so many extras for people in the hospital, and also makes arrangements of beautiful roses from her garden. Last year, while delivering 63 arrangements, she reported 29 seekers!
