Raissa Di Caterina is the Anti-Trafficking Response Coordinator at The Salvation Army Greater New York Division. She has been committed to her mission in anti-trafficking work since high school.

PEER: What does anti-trafficking work with The Salvation Army entail?

RAISSA DICATERINA: Anti-human trafficking work in The Salvation Army entails grit, persistence, perseverance and faith. The Salvation Army is skilled at “doing the most good” while often working with minimal resources. It has been amazing to see how The Salvation Army cares for those who are exploited, abandoned and abused, and collaborates with internal and external partners to bring the necessary resources to trafficked individuals. The Salvation Army is able to work with trafficked individuals holistically and address their legal, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs. Anti-human trafficking work in The Salvation Army entails thinking outside the box, collaborating with partners, working with corps officers (pastors), and inviting everyone to join in the fight against trafficking.

P: How did you personally get involved in this line of work?

RD: I began getting involved in anti-human trafficking work at 17 years old. While working on a high school research project, I learned about the increase of trafficking during global sporting events. At the time, my division did not have an anti-human trafficking program. The following year, for an internship, I began conducting awareness and training events throughout my division to educate corps (churches) on the signs of trafficking, the pervasiveness of trafficking, and what The Salvation Army is doing globally to combat it. From there, my division began getting more and more interested in having an anti-human trafficking program. A few years later, P.E.A.R.L Essence (the program) was born and has been on the frontlines of this work all over the Greater New York Division.

I was able to get involved and stay involved because leaders gave me the opportunity to do so. I found a passion in anti-human trafficking work and The Salvation Army gave me the space to explore this passion and make a career out of it. I was a volunteer for four years before I was able to be an employee and learned so much during that time.

P: How can young people get involved in or support The Salvation Army’s Anti-Trafficking programs?

RD: The first step to getting involved is reaching out to your corps officer (pastor). Many divisions are actively engaged in anti-human trafficking work and your corps officer will be able to introduce and connect individuals to the coordinator of your local program. If your division does not have a program or does not have volunteer opportunities, I encourage you to find online or in-person training opportunities and consider starting an anti-trafficking program at your corps (church).

P: Are there any positions, roles, or programs that have a volunteer shortage? Where do you see the most need?

RD: From my experience, there is a volunteer shortage on every level of anti-human trafficking work. The main roles and positions that often have very little volunteers is the behind-the-scenes responsibilities. While many individuals are eager to participate in direct volunteer work, very few are interested in the before and after work that is necessary. These responsibilities include scouting trips, research, coordination, preparing outreach items, cleaning emergency housing rooms, doing necessary laundry for rooms and clients, purchasing materials and keeping track of data for statistics.

P: Do you have some words of encouragement for young volunteers?

RD: Do not give up! You may be looking around and feel there is no program to volunteer at, or space for you to begin, but do not give up! If there is no active program, consider volunteering at your local soup kitchen, food pantry, or thrift store; trafficking survivors are in those spaces, too, and your empathy and caring interaction with them can change the trajectory of their life.

Consider hosting a training event at your corps and begin working at a corps to raise awareness about trafficking in your area. This work thrives through collaboration and partnership, and we need the next generation of volunteers to know that there is a space for them to explore this passion and allow God to show us the next steps.

For more information on P.E.A.R.L Essence and how to support trafficked individuals, please visit the program’s website.

“Understanding Holiness” In This New Series

The national ambassadors for holiness, Envoys Bill and Diane Ury, examine Scripture and the doctrines of The Salvation Army in a recent video series called “Understanding Holiness.”  

The big picture of the Bible, from beginning to end, is holiness. Many of us may feel that holiness is something far removed from our day to day lives or that it is not practical or even possible. However, we are called to be holy just as our Heavenly Father is holy. And He has made a way for us through the finished work of His son Jesus! Even now, the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of believers, equipping us to be holy. 

This series, for officers (pastors) and soldiers in The Salvation Army, is meant to provide a clear understanding of holiness and encourage believers to live it out each and every day.

To start watching this video series, visit The War Cry USA on YouTube.

Improving Kroc Atlanta’s Food Pantry

More than two years ago, The Salvation Army Kroc Atlanta hired Tahp Sharp as an administrative assistant. Leadership recognized immediately that Tahp came with a special heart and vision for community. After two quick promotions, Tahp now manages the Kroc center’s Membership and Community Support departments which includes a Food Pantry program. 

Tahp recalled, “In 2020, I visited a food pantry that was uniquely set up like a grocery store. This setup not only preserves dignity but also helps reduce food waste.” She began to espouse this vision to pave the way for this type of groundbreaking improvement to the Kroc center’s food pantry. 

In fall of 2024, Tahp was able to overcome several challenges and obstacles to enact this change and the reception was remarkable. One neighbor commented, “I like that I’m able to choose what I want. This is better!”  Another said, “It makes me feel like I’m in a grocery store.” Tahp added, “So far, it’s been successful, and I love that people can get the food they need and want for free.” 

As Tahp Sharp continues her tenure, Kroc Atlanta is confident that all programming will undergo this type of dignified and improved innovation.

By Benjamin Scholes, Kroc Director at Atlanta Kroc Corps Community Center 

Salvationists in the Olympic Village

Tapiwanashe Makarawu, or Tapiwa for short, is from Zimbabwe and a child of Salvation Army officers (pastors). Earlier this year, he ran in the Men’s 200m Final at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He placed in sixth overall. 

“God is everywhere,” Tapiwanashe said in an interview with Colonel Bishow Samhika at The Salvation Army IHQ. “God is the center of everything. He is the Alpha and the Omega. So, going into the Olympics, I had to put God first before everything. When I started involving God in everything, everything started flowing.” 

Want to read more about Tapiwa and his journey to the Olympics? Watch his inspiring interview on The Salvation Army IHQ’s YouTube channel and stay tuned for his interview in an upcoming issue of Peer. 

New Leaders

The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters announced that, effective March 1, 2025, Commissioners Merle and Dawn Heatwole will become the National Leaders of The Salvation Army in the United States. 

Commissioners Heatwole are currently serving as Territorial Commander and Territorial President of Women’s Ministries in The Salvation Army’s Latin America North Territory.

Succeeding Commissioners Kenneth and Jolene Hodder, who will retire from active service on February 28, 2025, Commissioner Merle Heatwole will serve as National Commander and Commissioner Dawn Heatwole will serve as National Secretary for Program.