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Doing the Most Good- Sierra del Mar
l-r : A student is tutored at the Cathedral City Corps. Lt. Col. Diane O’Brien congratulates Junior Cordero from the Redlands team for his stellar performance at the Bible Bowl. |
Cathedral City – With a robust advisory board and dedicated volunteers, the corps is helping some of the state’s most impoverished communities. Operation Smile Saver provides toothbrushes, hygiene kits, clothing and gifts to 580 children. Captains Saul and Jessica Doria started an exciting new after school tutoring program called TEAM.
Chula Vista’s unstoppable 64-member Women’s Auxiliary is putting on a Spring Fling fundraiser, holding a fashion show, preparing backpacks for kids going to camp, creating “comfort bags” for children whose parents have to appear in court and designing community volunteer projects. Majors Elicio and Darlan Marquez recently received a United Nations award for their work.
The Corona Corps provides help with emergency food and utility assistance to those from all walks of life, from those at poverty level to those who have hit a low bump in the road. Captains Mark and Monica King work hard to let the people of Corona know about the good works of The Salvation Army.
Hemet – Seniors are finding Extra Years of Zest in the XYZ club with trips to interesting places, luncheon outings, guest speakers as well as relaxing times of fellowship. Captain Susan Gibson reports that two XYZ members recently enrolled as soldiers in the corps.
Moreno Valley has a joyful ministry outreach program for babies, toddlers and moms called Baby Song, offering music enrichment, language development and social interaction. According to Captains Jeff and Katrina Pockett, the moms come to volunteer or participate in quilting with Major Lucille Younquist or a beginners’ knitting club. The corps is also starting a HopeShare Prime Time after-school program.
Part of Murrieta’s ministry is Major Darren and LeAnn Trimmer’s Bible study at the Perris Adult Rehabilitation Center on Tuesdays, but corps members took the ministry a step further by moving its own Bible study to the rehabilitation center on Thursdays. Their goal is embracing the community, introducing those who are hurting to Christ.
There is rarely an empty seat at Redlands KFC—Kids For Christ—club where they study the Bible in fun and creative ways, such as Bible verse word search, crafts, games or even short movies created by Captain Jack Bowen. It’s no wonder that Redlands kids are such avid participants in the Bible Bowl! The corps’ growing congregation has a solid center of those who left unproductive lifestyles and turned their lives around when they found The Salvation Army.
Oceanside’s beautifully redecorated dining room serves seniors lunch five days a week as part of the division’s Senior Dining and Social Center program. Corps officers Captains Dwayne and Hilary Patterson have created Tuneful Tuesdays for youth, beginning with a dinner at 4:40 p.m., ukulele lessons, timbrels classes, Singing Company for younger kids and Youth Chorus for teens.
Ontario’s Salvation Army after-school HERO club helps 50 to 75 students daily with its emphasis on Homework, Enrichment, Reading and Outreach. Each week the corps also hosts youth rallies, family dinners with Bible study following the meal, and Majors William and Bernadita Begonia recently celebrated a new lunch service as part of the Senior Drop-in Center.
The Riverside Corps Community Center’s dynamic fellowship consists of all races, ages and economic strata. The corps campus is home to a childcare center supporting low-income parents, including parents who are going to school to expand their career potential. Majors Richard and Margaret Peacock note that the childcare center recently passed the 100 mark in enrollment.
Victor Valley – Whether it’s handing out food boxes with the plan of salvation tucked in between the green beans and the jam or helping someone with a utility bill, Captain Joseph and Cathy Whipple’s main objective is letting people know that they can find Jesus at 7th and La Paz in Victorville. Often recipients will phone the corps to ask questions about salvation or simply ask for prayer. Both the Sunday worship service and Bible study meetings are growing, more than doubling since last year.
