Sylvia has been a part of The Salvation Army for her entire life. Today, she is a senior soldier at the San Diego Citadel Corps.

She’s played in the Territorial Youth Band since she was 15; she plays alto horn in senior band and also sings as part of the praise and worship team. “Music has always been what connected me to the Lord the most,” says Sylvia. “It fills my soul every time I sing or play. With that, you can say I’m really a Salvationist.”

This past May, Sylvia graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music education with performance in voice. As she has worked to improve her vocal skills for the past four years at school, she has gained experience working with clinicians, taking master classes and being a part of professional chamber choirs.

A month after her graduation, she attended an Opera Institute in Vienna, Austria for three weeks where it helped her not only gain experience on a full-stage production, but also build meaningful relationships and build her self-esteem. “I love singing because I have the chance of sharing a story,” says Sylvia. 

Although the operas aren’t Christian works, Sylvia makes it her mission to act in a Christian way by being kind and listening to those who need to be heard. “My motto is that when I perform, if I move at least one person in the audience, then I have done my job right. Even with all my performing opportunities, I still give the glory to God.”

Today, Sylvia is planning to teach at a music studio in San Diego, CA during a gap year and then apply for a master’s degree program in vocal performance. “Even when I become more successful in my singing career, I want to continue praising Him and attend The Salvation Army wherever I am in the world.”  

We asked Sylvia what her favorite memory from a Salvation Army program is. “Going to Western Music Institute (WMI) in person for the first time since COVID-19,” Sylvia answered. “I was with my best friends, and we were listening to the sermon in the gym. The message was about faith, and I felt God telling me to go to the altar. And once I went, I just started sobbing. I felt so spiritually drained, and I had denied it for so long. I felt that He was healing me in that moment.”

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Working Together

This past October, The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services of Bloomington provided 100 meals to community volunteers, working alongside partners like the American Red Cross in support of Operation Safe Harbor. 

Operation Safe Harbor was a disaster training exercise organized by the American Red Cross. This joint training opportunity, for Monroe County organizations like Civil Air Patrol, The Salvation Army, American Red Cross and unaffiliated community members, is an opportunity to test disaster communications, mass feeding, sheltering and damage assessments. This training event allowed for The Salvation Army to test their hub-and-spoke feeding capabilities. Hub-and-spoke feeding is a model of food distribution in which meals are prepared in a commercial kitchen then distributed to locations around the community via mobile food trucks, called canteens.

By Captain Vinal Lee

Meet Brandon Newhouse: An Aspiring Leader for Change

The incoming president of the Omaha Echelon chapter, Brandon Newhouse, is driven by a profound desire to uplift his community. Brandon’s journey began in 2021 when his uncle, an advisory board member of The Salvation Army, proposed the idea of launching an Echelon chapter in Omaha, NE. Seeing this as an opportunity to give back, Brandon, a proud Omaha local, eagerly embraced the chance to make a difference. 

After months of collaborative groundwork, the chapter officially formed at the close of 2022, uniting 20 enthusiastic members. A recent visit to a local corps (church) location sparked initiatives for improving early education and facility renovations. Looking ahead, Brandon envisions a transformative year fueled by positivity and community spirit. Excitement abounds as the chapter gears up for a local basketball tournament in January 2024. Recognizing the financial barriers many families face in accessing such events, they aim to create an affordable and local opportunity for youth to engage in their passion, fostering a positive environment for all. 

Beyond facilities and tournaments, Brandon’s infectious passion promises to uplift hundreds of families, providing a joyous and enhanced experience at their local Salvation Army. The future is bright as Brandon leads with positivity, compassion and a commitment to community well-being.

By Emma Gao, Internal Communications Intern

Polaris Partnership

Throughout a decade-long partnership, Polaris has contributed off-road vehicles and generators to enhance The Salvation Army’s ability to meet the needs of disaster survivors and first responders. 

Salvation Army response teams are often on the ground and operating in places where roads have not been fully cleared of debris or are otherwise blocked by flooding or storm damage. Polaris side-by-side RANGERs meet a specific need for this response. Their size and versatility allow them, and The Salvation Army teams, access to neighborhoods and survivors who might otherwise be cut off. This enables earlier meal and supply distribution to those in need days, and sometimes even weeks, earlier as larger vehicles cannot navigate the area. 

“The essential function of the Polaris vehicles in a disaster situation where our response must be timely and flexible cannot be overstated,” said Jeff Jellets, Emergency Disaster Services Coordinator for the USA Southern Territory. “We are so grateful to our friends at Polaris for supporting our commitment to continue ‘Doing the Most Good.’”

By Michelle Hartfield, USA Southern Territory

Bundle Up!

Last October, the Pittsburgh Penguins partnered with The Salvation Army and Project Bundle Up to help children in the local community gear up for winter with cozy coats, hats, gloves and boots. Players and the children in the program traveled to Dick’s Sporting Goods to shop for winter clothes and boots. Project Bundle Up is a project hosted by WTAE-TV, the local news station in Pittsburgh. The program provides new winter outerwear to children and senior citizens throughout western PA. 

Hope to Dream

This past October, Hope to Dream, an organization that provides beds to children in need, hosted a successful fundraiser to benefit victims of the Maui wildfires, raising over $33,800. This enabled them to donate an additional 130 beds along with 200 bed sets previously pledged to The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division.