35-year-old Paul encountered many roadblocks upon his release from jail, including being unable to find work because of his record. With no official ID card, work, money for food or a place to live, Paul was homeless and hungry and felt that his life was back to square one. Enter: Grate Patrol—The Salvation Army’s year-round homeless feeding ministry.

Paul visited the Grate Patrol mobile feeding van for a nutritious meal frequently. Volunteers from local churches and community groups prepare and serve 120 nutritious evening meals at multiple stops in the downtown section of the nation’s capital. Most of the clients are homeless and all are hungry. Paul became a familiar face to the Grate Patrol’s full-time Outreach Coordinator, William, who connected Paul and other clients with additional resources.

In addition to evening meals, Grate Patrol offers job search resources, permanent supportive housing application assistance, referrals for medical and mental health treatment, transportation help and so much more. Paul needed job search assistance. He had a Maintenance Technology Diploma and lots of experience in the custodial and maintenance field. He wanted to find work in his field so he could get off the streets and repay those who helped him at a low point in his life.

Despite his many roadblocks, Paul was determined to succeed and conducted his job search. He turned to The Salvation Army to help polish his resume and continue his search.

William helped Paul obtain a birth certificate and an ID card. Once Paul secured a few interviews, we provided him with a Salvation Army Thrift Store voucher to purchase clothes and a pre-loaded transit card for travel to interviews.

Paul eventually found a full-time job. We provided him with steel-toe work boots and other clothes to get him started on his new path. Paul found his silver lining and was receiving a second chance at last. “I’m ecstatic, humbled and grateful, all at the same time,” said Paul.

Grate Patrol responds not only to our clients’ physical needs but also their emotional needs and personal goals. Paul is now self-sufficient and even offered to treat his former case manager to lunch soon. By Ken Forsythe, Communications and Marketing Manager for The Salvation Army National Capital Area Command

 Find out how to volunteer at a Salvation Army near you at peermag.org/volunteer.

It’s In Your Hands

In January, 70 young adults gathered in Tennessee for a weekend of spiritual renewal and fellowship: “The Kickback: It’s in Your Hands.” It was a retreat planned, organized and paid for by the attendees, and consisted of big room meetings, breakout sessions and community work projects.  The retreat developed as a result of conversations around a lunch table.

Sabrina Kemper, Emaniel Brifil, Cherika Gregory and I chatted about investing in our own personal faith and walk with Christ. We desired to encourage other young adults to not wait to be spoon-fed, but rather to invest in themselves. Our leadership team developed this vision, along with a rough plan for a grassroots young adult retreat. From there, our theme verse, Galatians 6:4-5 (The Message), guided us through the development of the weekend.

By Tonya Stickney, Youth Character Building and Camp Program Coordinator  

Aspiring Young Leaders

The Echelon Leadership Council (ELC) is a select group of Echelon members from around the country who are tasked with supporting The Salvation Army’s strategic effort of developing and expanding Echelon across the United States. At the end of 2019, the ELC was pleased to welcome three new members: Camille Yano (Echelon Hawaii), Jenny Barcus (Echelon Sacramento) and Maria BonDurant (Echelon Syracuse). 

The ELC held their first in-person meeting of 2020 in late January in Charlotte, NC. The group enjoyed a fun dinner where they learned the history of traditional ramen noodles and worked together to make their own. After a productive day of meetings, they enjoyed dinner with the National Advisory Board at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. During those meetings, the ELC discussed priorities for Echelon in 2020—including expanding last year’s successful Echelon Kettle Takeover, providing new resources for Echelon chapters and examining the best ways to maintain relationships with Echelon alumni. 

“Grate Patrol responds not only to our clients’ physical needs but also their emotional needs and personal goals.”

Another large focus for the group is the upcoming National Advisory Organizations Conference: “Better Together 2020.” The ELC hopes a large ELC delegation will be present at the conference in April. Nearly all of the ELC members will be leading Echelon-focused workshops during the conference and are also looking forward to having a great conference-wide session on Friday morning, focused on Echelon. We can’t wait to see what’s ahead for Echelon and the ELC in 2020!

By Katie Seifu, National Echelon Manager 

Interested in Echelon? Want to get involved in your community? Visit peermag.org/echelon.

Better Together

Each year, over 2,000 delegates will gather in Chicago, IL for The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Organizations Conference (NAOC) to provide education and inspiration for advisory organizations members, community relations and development and emergency disaster services professionals.

Need an Online Bible Study for Easter?

Seedbed is a media platform that provides books, videos, podcasts and articles at your fingertips. Renowned speaker and editor-in-chief J.D. Walt writes a 7-minute daily text that is easy to read and understand. Seven minutes! Think of activities that take seven minutes—making breakfast or texting your friend. Seedbed’s seven minutes will help you invest in your walk with God!

This Easter, choose to grow deeper in knowing Jesus Christ. He’s alive and wants a relationship with you! “‘I [Jesus] am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die.’” (John 11:25-26).

“Reimagining”

The Salvation Army International Headquarters in London launched a “Reimagining” of Salvation Army International Women’s Ministries. With a new logo and new vision statement, the International Women’s Ministries team has been called to “do a new thing.” In the words of Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, World President of Women’s Ministries, “the breadth and reach of Women’s Ministries is limited only by our vision and our willingness to step out in faith to make a difference in the lives of women and girls today.”

The logo was designed by Jooles Tostevin-Hobbs with five birds, representing the five global zones where The Salvation Army ministers. Commissioner Rosalie Peddle explains that the logo is meant to inspire women from any culture or background at the dawning of each day, to unite as one voice and one body, where God’s love is always at the very center of their being.

To learn more about what SAWSO is doing around the world, visit sawso.org.