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Evening included baseball, outreach, and fundraising.
During Salvation Army Fireworks night—held on a perfect summer evening in the high desert region of the Sierra del Mar Division—Envoy Gary Dobney, Victor Valley, Calif., corps officer, threw out the first pitch at the minor league baseball game pitting the High Desert Mavericks (the Seattle Mariners’ minor league team) against the Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego Padres). The Mavericks—who sponsored the evening—play their home games in Adelanto, Calif., in the service area of the Victor Valley corps led by Dobney and his wife Evie.
Plenty of uniformed Salvationists came out as witnesses and manned an information table and a canteen serving free coffee. Sports announcers shared Salvation Army trivia with the sold-out out crowd throughout the game. During the fourth and sixth innings—Minute Miracle time—red buckets and hats circulated. The Salvation Army received $590.20 in donations, plus $348 from ticket sales, for a total of $938.20 for the evening.
“Fundraising was a secondary goal,” stated Dobney. “Everyone had a good time even though the home team lost the game 17-7. But the good name of The Salvation Army was promoted throughout the evening. God will take this evening and make it produce abundant fruit for his kingdom here in the high desert.”
Mavericks General Manager Tim Altier added, “I am glad the evening went so well for The Salvation Army. It’s a well-respected organization that does a lot of good for those most in need in our community. We would definitely like to continue working with The Salvation Army in the future.”
Maybe it was apropos that the “High Desert” was roughed up by the “Storm” because it reminded this community that The Salvation Army will be here ready to serve when disaster strikes. Dobney noted, “My pitch was a strike, the event was a hit, and I hope the cracked windshield on the canteen from that foul ball doesn’t cost too much to fix! To God be the glory!”