Kimberly had a challenging childhood.

A child of the foster care system, Kimberly’s life was often on the go, moving between her biological family and foster homes. Kim shares, “In the beginning, I was a happy child. I grew up in the The Salvation Army. My parents were local leaders. I grew up going to events and summer camp. But home life was different from church life. There was a lot of fighting. My sister has disabilities that caused her to lash out and my dad has anger issues. My mom and I would become caught up in the middle of this.

When I was 8, I overdosed on medication. I was dealing with so much and my parents had treated everything with medication. I ended up overdosing at school and was in the hospital for a week. Child Protective Services found that it would be better for us to be removed from our home. As an eight-year-old, I didn’t understand what was happening. It put a strain on my relationship with God.”

Though she was afraid, Kim was not forgotten by God; her first foster family was also involved with The Salvation Army. Eventually, Kim was moved back with her parents one more time before being placed in her final foster home. Amazingly, this family was also involved with The Salvation Army; Betty and Frank Strankman were leaders at their local Salvation Army church.

The Salvation Army remained a constant in her life. Wherever she was, Kim connected with her local Sunbeam troop, a Salvation Army scouting program in which youth learn life skills and spiritual formation, and was faithful in completing her badgework. Despite frequent moves, Kim regularly attended Troops and never missed a summer at camp. Because of Betty and Frank, Kim stayed in church, even though she struggled in her relationship with God. In a world of uncertainty, it was a comfort to know that there were safe people at the corps and at camp who loved her.

As a young adult, Kim found herself lost and struggling again. When a former corps officer (pastor), Major Jennifer Perine, sent her a simple text, asking how she was, it changed Kim’s life. She moved and began working at the corps.

“That was probably the biggest turning point in my life. I came to Spokane, and it was like hitting a reset button. I rededicated my life to God. I’m in college working on a degree in psychology with a focus in child and adolescent development so I can help kids like me and offer them hope.” Today, Kim serves as leader for the Moonbeam Troop (youth ages 4-6 years old).