New Frontier Chronicle January/February 2025 | Vol. 43, No. 01
Tucson Advisory Council awards Life Member
Longtime advisory council member Donal Drayne aims to make “each person feel special.”
BY LORI ARNOLD
Donal Drayne spent much of his career catering to highend clients at one of Tucson’s most grand resorts. Still, it was an ice cream social benefit on its grounds that introduced the hospitality expert to some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.
His life has never been the same.
“When I go down there and see these kids and a lot of
single parents, all they want is someone to give them a laugh and listen to them,” Drayne said. “I enjoy that, believe me.”
Drayne was referring to The Salvation Army Tucson Amphi Corps Community Center, located in midtown Tucson, one of the city’s most challenging neighborhoods.
Thirty-five years after that ice cream social, Drayne has donated thousands of hours and resources to benefit the corps and those it serves through his work on its advisory council, which he was invited to serve on following the 1989 event.
DONAL DRAYNE PAGE 13
Uber credits help San Francisco Kroc Center visitors
Vouchers help clients and staff travel safely to important destinations.
BY KAREN GLEASON
When clients at The Salvation Army Kroc Center in San Francisco request help, they’re often looking for housing or job referrals. What they don’t expect is a ride to their destination.
Hearing, “We can set you up with Uber,” is a welcome surprise.
For individuals without a car and for whom bus travel is impractical, those words can make life easier and safer, removing what can be a barrier to positive change: access to transportation.
With support from Uber, the Kroc Center received credits in September to request rides for their clients.
The Kroc Center sits in the heart of San Francisco’s Tenderloin—a district with consistently high crime rates, where many of the city’s 4,000-plus unsheltered individuals dwell on the streets.
“No one should have to walk through this,” Mark Maza of the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management told CBS News in 2023.
And with the Uber rides, individuals at the Kroc Center don’t have to. They have access to a safe way out.
UBER CREDITS PAGE 13
Suisun City Kroc Center earns ‘Best Christian Workplace’ distinction
Employee feedback reflects a workplace culture where staff feel safe, supported and heard.
BY KAREN GLEASON
In late 2024, The Salvation Army Suisun City (California) Kroc Center was named a “Best Christian Workplace”—the first Kroc Center in the Western Territory to receive the distinction and a testament to the impact a Kroc Center can have not only on the community but also on its staff.
“It’s very humbling to speak about it. It was definitely a team effort,” said Officer Services Secretary Major Joanne Louangamath, who served at the Kroc Center during the certification process.
Donal Drayne, second from left, holds his life membership award, presented to him by Major Charles Fowler, Southwest Divisional Commander, left, and Captains Kristy and Brent Church, of The Salvation Army Tucson Amphi Corps Community Center. |PHOTO COURTESY KRISTY CHURCH
The Suisun City Kroc Center team celebrates its certification as a Best Christian Workplace. |PHOTO COURTESY SUISUN CITY KROC CENTER
SUISUN CITY KROC PAGE 13
Pritisha Kumar, Kroc Center staff member, about to get into an Uber. |PHOTO COURTESY SAN FRANCISCO KROC CENTER
Crescendo honored for excellence in music
The City of Torrance (California) Cultural Arts Commission awarded the Excellence in Arts Award for Music 2024 to Garry and Julie Lawrence for their work with The Salvation Army’s Crescendo School of Music, which is located at the Torrance Corps.
“It’s definitely and distinctly an outreach ministry,” Garry Lawrence said.
The Southern California Divi-
sion recruited the Lawrences from Great Britain to pioneer the program, which launched in 2016 and continues to enrich the community, offering affordable lessons in piano, brass, woodwinds, strings, percussion, guitar, vocal and dance.
“From the moment someone walks into The Salvation Army they are met by Garry and Julie who share with them both their love for
‘Dreams’ Survivor Choir performs for member of Parliament
In the United Kingdom, the “Dreams” Survivor Choir performed at the U.K. and Northern Ireland Territorial Headquarters for Home Office Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips MP, and Salvation Army staff. The choir comprises survivors of modern slavery whom The Salvation Army supports through the government’s Modern Slavery Victim Care contract. NFC
Jesus and their love for music,” said Torrance Corps Officer Major Sybil Smith. “No one comes in or goes out without feeling blessed and encouraged to explore the moving gift of music in its many forms.”
The Lawrences received the award Oct. 27, 2024 during a ceremony that featured Crescendo piano student Carrie Lai. NFC
Five Bible verses on cultivating kindness
Support to families displaced following Nigeria dam collapse
The Salvation Army in Nigeria is supporting displaced people in Maiduguri, Borno State, with food and hygiene items following the catastrophic collapse of the Alau Dam. The Salvation Army immediately provided urgent humanitarian aid in the form of food, hygiene and sanitary materials to 325 displaced families who were not able to be accommodated in the main internally displaced people (IDP) camps. NFC
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8, ESV).
The native people showed an unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold (Acts 28:2, ESV).
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4, ESV).
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32, ESV).
1 2 3 4 5
Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it (Psalm 141:5, ESV).
JOIN THE HOPEFULS COLLECTIVE and find a place of low-pressure, high-encouragement love anytime you need it, whether you know it or not. Get in the group today at caringmagazine.org/collective. Let’s see goodness and spread goodness together.
ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Cory Gaudaur, Digital Operations Director
562/491-8326 • cory.gaudaur@usw.salvationarmy.org
It’s a childlike faith. And some of us traded that in for childish faith … but silly things isn’t whimsy. Instead, it’s this idea thinking, ‘I wonder what would happen if…’ It’s that hope—confidence in what you’re hoping for. Assurance in what you haven’t seen.
—Bob Goff on The Do Gooders Podcast Episode 209: “Catching Whimsy”
Listen to the interview here: Caringmagazine.org/209-catchingwhimsy-with-bob-goff/
Follow the podcast in your favorite podcast player and stay tuned for a new “Warm Hearts, Warm Homes” series this winter.
Caring is a magazine from The Salvation Army for people who care about making an impact for good. As a Salvation Army officer or employee, you’ll also find a curated collection of inspiring news for you in the New Frontier Chronicle print edition and our email newsletter, the Weekly.
caringmagazine.org
new.frontier@usw.salvationarmy.org
|PHOTO COURTESY TORRANCE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
|PHOTO COURTESY INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
|PHOTO COURTESY INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Salvation Army shines at 2025 Rose Parade
(L-r) Del Oro Divisional Youth and Candidates’ Secretary Captain Jillian O’Brien, Emma Brown and Nelly Vesikula lead the timbrel section of The Salvation Army’s 2025 Rose Parade band, which featured guest band Glenmore Temple Band from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In total, roughly 215 individuals comprised The Salvation Army’s delegation, said Southern California Divisional Director of Music and Gospel Arts Evan Figueras. This included brass and percussion musicians as well as timberlists, flag bearers and leaders.
“This is one of the largest stages where we get to share the message of Christ,” Figueras said. “We have participated in this parade for 105 years and people are excited to see us. Our presence reminds people that we are still active in the world and provides a little bit of hope for those who need it.”
The music selections included arrangements of popular hymn tunes people of many ages recognize and connect with. This year, the Army debuted a new arrangement, “What A Friend,” by Daniel Prince that’s based on the hymn, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.”
“Hymn-tune playing is central to who we are as Salvation Army musicians and this song reminds listeners that no matter what the circumstances, we can always turn to Jesus,” Figueras said.
During their visit, the 45 members from the Glenmore Temple band participated in Bandfest, hosted by the Tournament of Roses, in addition to performing a concert at the Tustin Ranch Corps and marching down Main Street, USA in Disneyland.
For Figueras, it was his first year as Bandmaster of The Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band. He said he was looking forward to connecting with the musicians who had traveled to participate.
“Music has a way of bringing people together,” he said. “While our music on the route is able to minister to the crowds, as bandmaster I get to spend the week ministering to our musicians. The preparation for the week might be taxing, but the chance to spend a week seeing these people grow together is worth every second.”
|PHOTO
COURTESY NEIL SMITH
10 stories that gave us hope this year
This year, the idea of hopefulness was a fixture at Caring— a constant that helped guide our work and served as a reminder of just how important storytelling is in keeping hope alive for others. Our team even created a Slack channel to catalog hopeful thoughts to turn to if we needed inspiration.
Throughout the 138 stories the Caring team published this year, it’s our hope you were inspired by the individuals who found strength in their recovery, supported their hungry or unhoused neighbors, or volunteered to lend a hand in their community.
Here are your top 10 most-loved stories of 2024.
1. At the Hilo Overnight Safe Space, people living on the streets find rest
In Hilo, Hawaii, the Hilo Overnight Safe Space offers unhoused individuals a safe space to spend the night and shelter from the elements on the grounds of The Salvation Army Hilo Corps.
2. Tucson Salvation Army Hospitality House helps empty nesters get back on their feet
When mounting bills and an unstable living situation rendered the Romeros’ empty
nest overwhelming, The Salvation Army Hospitality House provided a safe haven.
3. In Anaheim, pet owners find a haven of support at emergency shelter
The Salvation Army Anaheim Emergency Shelter is able to accommodate up to 30 pets, removing a barrier to emergency housing for many unhoused people.
4. Homeless Outreach teams collaborate to impact people in need
A collaboration between Dignity Health Street Medicine and The Salvation Army’s Homeless Outreach Team delivers vital support to people experiencing homelessness, with a clear goal to connect individuals to essential resources to facilitate their transition toward permanent housing.
5. At The Salvation Army Coeur d’Alene Kroc Center, one teen becomes ‘known figure’
At The Salvation Army Coeur d’Alene (Idaho) Kroc Center, one teen found community and went from wellness center attendee to Zumba instructor.
6. In Oregon’s Klamath Falls, one woman is the force behind The Salvation Army’s social services
Over four decades, Debi Leighton made it her mission to distribute kindness to her community, along with meeting people’s physical needs.
7. Salvation Army shelter guest receives full scholarship to Biola University High school senior Ruben Calleros and
his mother lost their rental home and became guests at the Anaheim (California) Emergency Shelter. Through it all, he continued to stay strong in his faith and excelled academically, eventually receiving a full scholarship to Biola University.
8. The Salem Salvation Army Kroc Center kitchen is feeding the community
Since the 2020 Oregon wildfires, Chef Greggery Peterson and his team at The Salvation Army have been feeding community members in need.
9. Employee at Denver shelter emerges as lifesaver in opioid overdose crisis
J’azmin Smith earned a Lifesaver Award from The Salvation Army and a Pulse Award from Cintas for preventing overdoses at a Denver shelter.
10. Phoenix shelter offers new start for mom and son—and likely saves her life
In Phoenix, The Salvation Army Emergency Family Shelter helped a single mother battling cancer and her young son secure housing and get back on their feet.
School lunch recovery program helps others
BY HILLARY JACKSON
In the Ramona Elementary School cafeteria in Alhambra, California, apples, bananas and unopened milk cartons often populate the share table. It’s a space where students leave unwanted items that are intact and ready to eat but have crossed the kitchen’s threshold and cannot be returned. Those who are hungry are free to take what they need.
Still, items are often left over, said Roland Jose, Alhambra Unified Assistant Director of Food and Nutrition Services.
“In general, in school food service, we probably over produce probably by 10 percent or greater, just by the way that we’re set up,” he said. “We have a large amount of meals left over at the end of shift, and it’s so disheartening to see that food not get utilized in a positive manner.”
It’s not just in Alhambra—World Wildlife Fund’s analysis found school food waste could amount to 530,000 tons per year across the U.S.
The Alhambra Unified School District wanted to repurpose the food, Jose said. That’s why they began the Food Recovery Program, and through it, partnered with a number of community groups including The Salvation Army San Gabriel Corps to put the food to good use.
About once a week, a representative from the corps picks up the food donation from Ramona Elementary in a van. The items then join other food donations from organizations, like Trader Joe’s, that are used across the corps’ programs, said Corps Officer Captain Joanna Wang.
“Having more resources, especially healthy fresh resources, is always just wonderful to have on hand for people who come, because a lot of the time we’ll have canned goods and dry goods and stuff like that,” Wang said. “So anytime we’re able to offer something fresh, something healthier, that they don’t need a microwave or an oven or anything for, it’s just a blessing.”
The items from the school’s donation are particularly helpful for the corps’ youth programs, like family night and troops, because they are kid-friendly,
Wang said, adding the items are also included in emergency food boxes for those in need.
Recently, during a youth program, a 7-year-old participant received a carton of milk from the school donation. Wang said the boy is from a single-father home and has been in America for under a year.
“I’ve never seen a kid so excited to get milk,” she said. “I think it reminded him of school, but he was so, so excited to receive that…So anytime we have it, we try to make sure he gets it if he wants it.”
These efforts are part of a larger trend, especially in California, where California State Senate Bill 1383 aims to divert organic waste from landfills to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The bill requires institutions like local schools to arrange to recover the maximum amount of excess edible food destined for landfills.
Jose currently estimates the school district is capturing 5 percent of what is utilized, with several school sites participating in the Food Recovery Program.
“There’s still room to grow,” he said, noting the district’s desire to expand. “We do produce a lot of food that does not get captured, so our goal is to try and improve that process.”
After the San Gabriel Corps began collecting the recovered food, they were invited to give a pair of presentations to some of the elementary school’s students.
“We did a presentation and shared what we do and who we are, and then they got really excited,” Wang said. “They did all these coloring items, and just made a huge project of it, and were so excited that they were able to give to someone else.”
The produce, especially, is well received by those coming to The Salvation Army for help, Wang said.
“We’re just grateful for this,” she said.”I think it’s an exciting partnership, and I’m thankful for the interaction we’ve been able to have with the people who work at the district office, as well as the staff at the elementary school and the kids.” NFC
Q&A: Territorial Director of Volunteer Engagement aims to keep opportunities ‘relevant’
BY HILLARY JACKSON
It’s simple: The Salvation Army couldn’t meet the millions of human needs it does each year without the support of volunteers. Not only do volunteers critically support The Salvation Army’s programs and services, many become financial supporters and advocates.
According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, volunteers are almost twice as likely to donate to a charity than those who don’t.
Stacy Dertien knows this firsthand. For more than 13 years, she’s supported The Salvation Army’s mission by serving as a go-to resource for all things volunteer engagement for the USA Western Territory. She’s held various roles, including, most recently, the Territorial Director of Emergency/Disaster Services (EDS) Volunteers and Training. Now, she’s set to begin a new role as the Territorial Director of Volunteer Engagement.
“With Stacy’s leadership, the divisions will be better equipped to provide meaningful opportunities to volunteers and cultivate them as donors and advocates,” said Community Relations and Development Director Maria Todaro.
Dertien holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit Organizational Management from Springfield College and is a Certified Volunteer Administrator. Previously, only part of her role was dedicated to evergreen volunteer engagement—it quickly became apparent there was a need for a full-time position.
Dertien spoke with New Frontier Chronicle about trends in volunteerism and how she hopes to deepen
Stacy Dertien
volunteer engagement across the West.
What are trends in volunteerism that you think The Salvation Army could benefit from?
Skills-based volunteerism is gaining momentum as a key trend in volunteerism. By offering skills-based opportunities, we can unlock growth, innovation and efficiency. These opportunities can range from direct tasks like writing a newsletter or teaching a class to more complex projects like data analysis or “hackathons,” where technology professionals convene to develop a specific tech-driven solution for the organization.
Why volunteering? How has this become your path?
I was originally introduced to the field of volunteerism through mentoring. I served as the director of youth mentoring programs for Big Brothers Big Sisters and the YMCA. Later, I became involved in program design and policy creation and began designing corporate mentoring programs as well. The great thing about the field
of volunteerism is that when volunteers are leveraged effectively, a win-win-win situation is created for everyone involved. There are positive outcomes for the organization, the volunteers and the beneficiaries they serve.
What are you most proud of or encouraged by related to volunteerism and The Salvation Army?
It’s exciting that The Salvation Army is at a point where we are motivated and well-positioned to focus on continuous improvement, enhancing our processes to boost efficiency, and ensuring our volunteer opportunities remain accessible and relevant in the face of a constantly evolving volunteer landscape.
Why is volunteering critical to furthering The Salvation Army’s mission?
The Salvation Army serves every zip code in the United States, each with its own set of strengths, challenges, and opportunities. To effectively serve each unique community, we need to involve each community in our work.
How do you hope to deepen volunteer engagement in the West through this new role?
I would love for The Salvation Army to be seen as a vessel to help people affect the change they want to make in their community. If someone is passionate about an important cause, we want to be there to support and equip them to make a real difference. NFC
Therapy dogs add ‘one more layer of community’
GO TEAM Therapy Dogs make regular visits to The Salvation Army Booth Program for Young Parents.
BY KAREN GLEASON
“‘Dog Day’ is our favorite day of the month,” said Kim Kelzer, Social Worker and Program Coordinator for The Salvation Army Boise (Idaho) Corps’ Booth Program for Young Parents.
Every third Wednesday, “Dog Day,” GO TEAM Therapy Dogs and their handlers visit Cardinal Academy, a charter high school for pregnant and parenting youth located on The Salvation Army’s Boise campus. The Booth Program, which provides wrap-around services for the students, coordinates the visits, now in the fourth year.
Kelzer said students and staff anticipate the visits.
“Being in school is anxiety-producing; being a parent as a teenager is anxiety-producing. Those things together are a lot,” she said, adding the visits also benefit the staff. “It’s just a great de-stressor. It helps settle everybody down.”
GO TEAM Therapy Dogs is a nonprofit organization that trains handler/dog teams to offer comfort to people in such settings as crisis zones, hospitals, airports and schools. Each team undergoes training, including the AKC-approved Good Canine Citizenship test.
GO TEAM started in 2012 in response to the Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs, Colorado, with two teams. Since then, more than 1,000 teams have completed the training, and GO TEAM groups serve throughout the United States and in some overseas locations.
Southern Idaho Coordinator and Boise Corps Administrator Major Premek
Kramerius said the therapy dogs have contributed to Booth Program participants’ overall well-being.
“The partnership with Go Team Idaho is helping our students feel better and be less stressed,” he said. “Improving emotional responses, reducing anxiety and communication functioning are priorities for our Booth Program.”
A report published by the National
Institutes of Health found short-term, unstructured interactions with a therapy dog can significantly reduce anxiety and stress, noting that a dog may serve as both a comforting, nonjudgmental presence as well as a positive tactile and sensory diversion.
On Dog Day, about six dogs and their handlers visit students and staff for
‘Bee
Reel’ podcast keeps the spirit of Testify alive
Weekly episodes speak to anyone interested in sharing the Good News.
BY KAREN GLEASON
On Sept. 26, 2024, The Salvation Army Western Territory launched a new podcast, “Bee Reel,” with host Bee Bryant, a Salvationist and musician from the Seattle Temple Corps, known to many as the author of Western Music Institute’s daily devotionals, the “sealed orders.” In the weekly podcast episodes, which drop each Monday, Bryant aims to make the idea of evangelizing less intimidating by sharing biblical wisdom, ideas for connecting with people and prayer suggestions. Episode titles give a sense of his low-pressure approach to evangelism: “Park Benches and Junior Chefs,” “Never Mind the Mess, Go On!” and “Clean or Profane.” Bryant credits Assistant Program Secretary Martin Hunt with both the idea for the podcast and its name. Hunt said the
Partnership helps Arizonans not have to decide between power and their bills
A partnership between Tucson Electric Power and The Salvation Army supports community and safety during the city’s hottest months.
BY KELLY DAWSON
Erica Guiterrez describes the Southern Arizona heat as relentless, like a heavy blanket that’s tucked in from early spring to late fall.
“We’re still wearing shorts on Thanksgiving and using our A.C.,” she said.
As the supervisor of special plans at Tucson Electric Power, she has a distinct insight into the city’s relationship with the sun. While it can be a welcome contrast to climates that are more likely to experience heavy snow or rain, it can also be dangerous in extremes.
“You have to protect yourself from the heat, and it costs money to do that,” Guiterrez said. “Our low-income customers are sometimes choosing between cooling their homes, paying rent and buying groceries, and so the energy required to protect themselves becomes a burden.”
In 2024, the National Weather Service reported that Tucson had 112 days when the temperature climbed above 100 degrees. It’s the most ever recorded in the agency’s history.
“When the temperature is well over 100 degrees outside, it means that it could be close to 90 degrees inside without air conditioning,” says Nicole Cruz, a Case Management Coordinator for Tucson Family Services. “Not having utilities can quickly become a domino effect: You’ll lose fresh food and child services can be called, or you can be evicted and then lose your job.”
While there are existing services in place to act as a safety net, such as shortterm cooling centers and longer-term moratoriums on energy bills through the summer, Guiterrez and Cruz want to spread the word about the unique partnership between Tucson Electric Power and the Salvation Army Tucson.
Through the Help with Emergency Energy Relief Operation (HEERO) charity fund, customers of TEP can round up their bill to financially support neighbors in
need, that is dispersed by The Salvation Army. This program has typically garnered about $9,000 per month.
This past September, Guiterrez
Project Hope (Helping Others Pay for Energy), an internal program for employees—who are often also TEP
Bee Bryant
THERAPY DOGS PAGE 12
|PHOTO COURTESY BRENDA MALLINDINE
In October, TEP employees were also named The Salvation Army Tucson’s volunteers of the month for their efforts which included collecting socks for people in need.
FULL CIRCLE
A visit to a Salvation Army food pantry paved one family’s path.
BY HALEY OSNESS
Norma Cifuentes visited The Salvation Army El Cajon (California) Corps food pantry for the first time in 2011, expecting only some help with groceries. To her surprise, she left with shoes and diapers for her 1-year-old son, Eddie, and an invitation to church.
She said the timing couldn’t have been better. Cifuentes and her husband, Angel, were living with family while struggling to find their own home, all while managing Eddie’s recent epilepsy diagnosis.
“It was a stressful time,” Cifuentes said. “We had never attended church as a family and were praying to find the right church for us.”
The family attended Sunday service at the El Cajon Corps the week they first received assistance. However, when Eddie’s seizures led to a hospital stay, they were unable to attend in the following weeks.
Then El Cajon Corps officers Majors Terry and Ruetendo Masango—now the Training Principal and Director of Continuing Education at The Salvation Army’s College for Officer Training (CFOT)—visited them in the hospital to offer prayer and support.
“That moment marked a new path,” Cifuentes said. “We felt the Holy Spirit telling us, ‘This is your church, these are your people.’”
The following day, doctors informed the Cifuentes family that Eddie’s condition had improved, allowing them to return home.
“From that day on we stayed connected,” Cifuentes said. “We just wanted to give back and extend a helping hand like we received.”
Cifuentes began volunteering at the El Cajon Corps for several years before taking on a front desk position in 2015, followed by a role as a social services assistant in 2019. During this time, the corps supported Angel by supplying tools to help him start his landscaping business and hired him as the property gardener.
“Everything just came together for us because of the support,” she said. “The Salvation Army introduced God in a new way and it’s just amazing to see how our lives changed.”
Now, 13 years later, the family has welcomed two more children, Emilia, 11, and Ezekiel, 6, and they say they’ve found the ideal community to raise their family in.
“We didn’t grow up this involved in church,” Cifuentes said. “It’s beautiful to see our kids develop their relationship with God and thrive as a result.”
From summer camps and youth events to music groups and becoming Salvation Army junior soldiers, she said the kids have flourished and developed a deep sense of faith. Eddie, now 13, often shares his testimony of how God and prayer have helped his medical journey.
“They just love it here,” Cifuentes said. “They’re learning music and discovering passions that are making them well-rounded kids.”
I’VE WITNESSED GOD’S WORK IN MY FAMILY’S LIFE AND WANT TO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE HOW HE CAN IMPACT OTHERS AS WELL.
—Norma Cifuentes
El Cajon Corps Officer Captain Sam Fowler said the family’s years of involvement have made them a pillar of the corps. “They attend all of our programs and events,” he said. “They’re a well-known presence.”
He added that Cifuentes’ role places her in a position to interact directly with community members.
“We serve around 1,100 families a month out of our food bank, and the fact that people know Norma’s name speaks to her dedication to following up and taking the time to understand people’s situations,” Fowler said. “It’s beyond just providing a service.”
In 2022, Cifuentes launched a women’s Bible study in Spanish. As the only Spanish-speaking staff member at the corps, she aimed to create a space where women could meet and deepen their faith.
“She desires to see people restored and to find themselves in a position where they are ready and able
to seek change or support in their lives,” Fowler said. For Cifuentes, it’s about seizing opportunities to connect and welcome others into the community that brought her support, care and faith.
“I’ve witnessed God’s work in my family’s life and want to take every opportunity to demonstrate how he can impact others as well,” Cifuentes said.
In October 2024, Cifuentes accepted a new role at the El Cajon Corps as a Family Service Coordinator, where she oversees the food and diaper bank, homeless outreach, volunteer management and donation procurement.
“That first connection can open the door to so much more,” Cifuentes said. “God had a plan and positioned us exactly where we needed to be—to better ourselves and help others.” NFC
The Cifuentes family: Angel, Emilia, Ezekiel, Norma and Eddie.
|PHOTO COURTESY NORMA CIFUENTES
Missoula Job Skills Workshop aims for self-sufficiency
BY HALEY OSNESS
At 60, David Filori found himself homeless in Missoula, Montana. Despite working in a kitchen, his income wasn’t enough to meet his basic needs, leading him to sleep in his car.
“Eventually, I just decided I wanted to do better for myself,” Filori said.
He visited The Salvation Army Missoula (Montana) Corps for food assistance and its hygiene facilities and laundry services. While there, he discovered the fourweek Job Skills Workshop Series, which was starting its first session.
“I just said, ‘Where can I sign up?’” he said. He wanted a higher-paying job.
He joined eight others in the free workshop series, facilitated by professionals from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, a state agency providing job training and workforce development services.
Meeting once a week at the corps’ computer lab, the series covered career exploration, résumé building, interview techniques, dressing for success, beginner LinkedIn usage and how to apply for jobs online.
Upon completion, participants receive a certificate and a Walmart gift card to purchase clothes, toiletries or other essentials needed for an interview or job.
“The program helps participants gain soft skills like communication and teamwork to function effectively in the workforce,” said Missoula Corps Officer Major Monica Covert. “The goal is to help people be prepared for interviews and jobs.”
After arriving in Missoula as Corps Officers in 2022, Covert and her husband, Major Robert Covert, soon re-
BEE
REEL FROM PAGE 5
idea stemmed from a challenge by the West’s territorial leaders to keep the energy of the 2024 Testify Congress alive following the weekend.
“Telling people about Jesus is not just our privilege as believers, but is a command from Jesus directly: ‘And you will be my witnesses’ [Acts 1:8],” Hunt said. “Knowing Bee’s gift for writing in a deep, sometimes amusing, but always powerful and thought-provoking way, we invited him to provide this new resource as a challenge to all believers to be intentional about telling more people about Jesus…and more often.”
BeeReel is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and at salarmy.us/BeeReelPodcast.
New Frontier Chronicle (NFC) asked Bryant to take readers behind the scenes of the podcast.
NFC: Who is your target audience and what do you hope to inspire in your listeners?
Bee Bryant (BB): My target audience is Salvationists, or really anyone who is interested in evangelizing. We talk about evangelism a lot more than we do it. It’s a daunting task that needs to be broken down into smaller bits. I hope it gives people more practical tools that they can use to evangelize people.
NFC: How do you hope to continue what started at the Testify Congress with this podcast?
BB: With any Congress or event, the fear is that the theme, however great, will just turn into an old name tag that you keep on your dresser. So with this podcast, we
alized there were limited employment support resources throughout the state.
“We recognized that homelessness would only increase without access to job support,” Covert said. “By equipping individuals with the tools and skills needed for employment, we can improve their chances of stable housing.”
She said five out of nine individuals in the program were experiencing homelessness while living in their cars or a motel.
The Coverts’ experience with The Salvation Army’s STEPS program—a transitional employment service for men—in a previous appointment in San Diego enabled them to replicate some of the program’s components in Missoula.
“Witnessing how the STEPS program transformed men’s situations lit the fire in us to create something similar in Montana,” said Covert.
JOB SKILLS PAGE 11
MY TARGET AUDIENCE IS SALVATIONISTS, OR REALLY ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN EVANGELIZING. WE TALK ABOUT EVANGELISM A LOT MORE THAN WE DO IT.
—Bee Bryant
want to inspire people to keep testifying, giving them the tools, and helping them keep focused on it during the year. Hopefully we’ll have an effect on people’s lives and help bring in new people.
NFC: How do you find inspiration for each episode?
BB: I actually came up with all the topics in advance. I mapped out what I thought were six phases of evangelism, then I came up with five topics for each. I wanted to mix weeks that looked at a specific Bible passage with weeks that talked about the ideas more generally. Those six phases of evangelism? They are preparing ourselves to evangelize, making our corps a welcoming community, loving others in action, sharing our story, how to invite someone in, and living with a changed church.
I spend time researching and reading and reflecting on the topic. Then, I just write things that I think are true. It’s a kind of “steep and pour out” all at once method. My aim is to make more complex concepts into easy-to-understand examples. I’m a big proponent of saying it plainly, and not trying to use the biggest words.
I definitely am building on my history of WMI sealed orders writing. Those are always a great challenge but the difference is that it’s writing seven all at once [for WMI] versus this, which is one week-
ly. It actually is more like when I was at a Christian college, I spent five years writing a humor column in the college paper. Luckily, I’ve gotten much better at starting before 11 p.m., and I don’t go to Denny’s nearly as often.
NFC: How is doing this podcast affecting you?
BB: I’m constantly thinking about spiritual concepts. This means that I’m evaluating my actions more actively and thinking, “Am I actually living the stuff that I’m talking about?” That makes me a much more intentional person. It has also challenged me to be more talkative about my faith at places, like my job, which aren’t necessarily Christian environments.
NFC: What is your personal story: what has Jesus done for you?
BB: I have found The Salvation Army to be a safe place since I was a little kid. I was a third-generation Salvationist, but my parents went through a divorce, and it was an especially hard time for me. That’s when I started junior band and programs at the corps. That experience in my junior high and high school years really shaped who I am. Ever since, I’ve done my best to serve God wherever I’m at and in whatever way I am asked.
I am still a Salvationist because I think
our ministry is very unique, and serves the kind of people that Jesus would want us to serve: the least and the lost, the poor. It also has let me use music, which is a passion of mine, as a channel for discipling younger believers. We don’t often think about it, but very few ministries are as intergenerational as music groups.
NFC: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
BB: I would encourage people to rate the podcast. Give us feedback on anything that you’d like to hear, what you like about it and what you don’t. It’s really hard to get feedback on streaming platforms, but I’d love to hear from the Salvationists who are listening to the podcast. I could always use some unsolicited advice. NFC
Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and at salarmy.us/BeeReelPodcast.
New episodes drop every Monday.
Participants learn skills to build self-sufficiency in a classroom setting.
|PHOTO COURTESY MISSOULA CORPS
9 WAYS THE SALVATION ARMY BRIGHTENED THE HOLIDAYS AT CHRISTMAS
At Christmastime, The Salvation Army activates with urgency across the U.S., helping thousands of individuals and families in need with gifts, meals and other forms of assistance. That’s in addition to holding the iconic Red Kettle fundraising campaign that funds those and other year-long efforts, and the steady stream of merriment associated with being a place of worship for thousands.
Across the Western U.S., The Salvation Army’s effort to brighten the holidays has many components, often taking different forms across the 13 states, Guam and Micronesia. Caring explored the best of the holidays in each of the West’s Salvation Army divisions. Here is a capsule of Christmas 2024 in the West:
1
A DEDICATED VOLUNTEER AT THE KETTLE
In November 1987, Verena Matthews was frustrated. The Salvation Army bellringing season was about to begin in Coos Bay, Oregon, and a women’s service organization had never claimed the coveted “Salvation Army Kettle Cowbell” award.
“That’s when my big mouth got me in trouble,” Matthews, 93, said. “I got tired of hearing that it was the men who did this and the men who did that. I was ready to give them some competition.”
2
A NEW ROLE THAT KEEPS THE SPIRIT GOING YEAR ROUND
The new Christmas Champion role invited 30 lead volunteers—one from each advisory organization in The Salvation Army Northwest Division—to organize and communicate Christmas activities and plans throughout the year. Their efforts will help The Salvation Army extend support during the Christmas season as community needs grow alongside increased generosity through donations and volunteer efforts.
3
A FRESH TAKE ON A FAMILIAR CLASSIC
In Anchorage, Alaska, The Salvation Army tries to reclaim Christmas for those in recovery through a number of special touches, like holiday pajamas, a Christmas meal and party complete with carols. The highlight of it all? “The 12 days of Clitheroe”: The center’s spin on the familiar Christmas song.
In the two weeks leading up to the party, each of the Clitheroe programs works on their custom lyrics to the
familiar tune. “The song is funnier and funnier every year,” said Assistant Clinical Manager Shalom So’O.
4
A SUPPORTIVE, FAMILIAR HOLIDAY PRESENCE
How great would it be to have Santa on speed dial?
For The Salvation Army in Northern California, the initiated know who to call when they need a hand from the North Pole. It’s Major Rio Ray, Sacramento (California) County Coordinator and Sacramento Citadel Corps Officer, who embraces the role of Santa to make Christmas special for those The Salvation Army is serving.
5
A REMINDER OTHERS CARE
For hundreds of seniors in care homes across Salt Lake City, The Salvation Army Golden Angel Tree program ensures they receive thoughtful gifts and experience the warmth and generosity of Christmas.
Among the recipients was Nancy Jensen, a resident of Pine Creek Rehabilitation and Nursing. She said waking up to gifts on Christmas was a pleasant surprise—last year, she received a blanket and a pajama set. This year, she wished for slippers and a calendar. “It’s a nice feeling to know others are thinking about you,” she said.
6
SWOOPING IN TO SAVE CHRISTMAS MORNING
Last year, as volunteers took Angel Tree tags off Christmas trees at the Desert Ridge Marketplace in the Phoenix area, Nox Group President and Chief Operating Officer Greg Ayres asked what they were doing.
When the volunteer explained the tags were considered “forgotten angels”— their due dates were coming up, and the registered child’s Christmas wish list remained unfilled—Ayres asked for the tags. They gave him the stack. He asked if there were more. There were—in the end he left with some 450 tags the company fulfilled by the next day.
This year, the company has adopted some 2,300 angels—all of the families who are set to pick up their gifts on day one—a day that typically has the most forgotten angels due to the tight turnaround.
7
AN EXTRA HELPING HAND
During Christmas time, participants from Revolution Hawaii, The Salvation Army’s spiritual life development program for young adults (ages 18-25), are dispatched as Christmas Angels to Salvation Army units throughout the islands to help with a range of Christmas tasks, helping with ringing the bell at the kettle, angel tree distributions and more.
“Getting to help the corps officers during one of their busiest seasons, Christmas, was so much fun and so rewarding because we worked so hard…and helped take some stress away from what’s already a super stressful time,” said Hannah Trayler, who took part in Revolution Hawaii from 2022-2023.
8
A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE NORTH POLE
At The Salvation Army warehouse in Bell, California, a cardboard sign announces visitors have arrived at the North Pole. While the plain metal shelving and pallets of brown boxes might seem like a far cry from Santa’s Workshop, inside the warehouse, volunteers serve as de facto elves, organizing and sorting Christmas toy donations for children in need across Southern California.
Mountains of toys fill a row of tables, stacked high in colorful piles of dolls, action figures, toy cars and plush animals. Meanwhile, Santa’s helpers hustle to sort each item by age group and gender, from ages 0-14. As Christmas approaches, the donations arrive by the truckload from Mattel and corporate donors, plus individuals who drop off toys at collection boxes across the region.
“It requires a lot of hours of volunteer work,” said Pamela Dong, Divisional Family Services Director, who oversees Christmas operations at the Bell Warehouse.
9
REVVING UP THE JOY
On Dec. 14, Santa Claus and hundreds of his biker friends, representing California’s Central Valley motorcycle clubs, roared into the Turlock Corps’ parking lot to deliver thousands of Christmas gifts for local children. The event marked the 6th annual toy run for the group. NFC 1
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
In the 58 years of Service Corps’ history, roughly 19 percent of all members have gone on to become officers
INMatthew 25, Jesus commands his disciples to go into all the world, making disciples of all nations. Missions have always been an integral part of the gospel message. This is why The Salvation Army’s Service Corps’ goal mirrors that of the Great Commission: for young adults to become disciples and make disciples of the nations.
People sometimes ask questions about the nature of Service Corps and why the Western Territory sees it as a priority. The truth? Service Corps is a longterm investment into the lives of The Salvation Army’s young adults, and the future growth of the Western Territory.
Here are three ways Service Corps helps The Salvation Army grow stronger:
1. SERVICE CORPS INSPIRES LIFE-LONG DEDICATION TO CHRIST
Many people enter young adulthood with curiosity about the world and the lives they wish to live. It is at this time when some begin to wonder if the gospel is relevant to their daily life, and even dedicated Salvationists may show less interest in serving in their corps.
Joining a Service Corps team shows young adults The Salvation Army is bigger than they imagined, and the kingdom of God is far richer than they could have believed. Service Corps brings young adults to locations around the world, showing them how the Army serves those who do not have the means to support themselves. This includes homes for abandoned children, hospitals, senior living centers and more.
More than programs, participants form relationships with their Salvation Army hosts, men and women who passionately serve as faithful witnesses to all God has done in their lives. Seeing the dedication and faith of Salvation Army officers and soldiers abroad is what inspires Service Corps members to become committed, life-long followers of Christ.
2. SERVICE CORPS BRINGS INCREASED PARTICIPATION AT HOME
People often talk about how we, as an Army, have a willingness to offer our help wherever we see need. Serving others is at the core of what we do, and a willing heart is key to being others-focused. Yet the confidence to help in any capacity requires experiences which prove one’s strength and capability. While on Service Corps, teams are faced with challenges that stretch their missional imagination and build their emotional resilience to discomfort.
When tasked with serving in a new environment, Service Corps members learn to adjust ministry strategies they have learned in the past to meet the practical and spiritual needs in front of them. Added to this is the loss of familiar comforts
3 benefits of Service Corps
which team members may have taken for granted (like familiar foods, languages and social norms). These experiences embolden young adults to continue serving upon returning home. After a summer of serving others in a foreign environment, acts of service at home feel less daunting.
Captain Miguel Morales (Team South Korea, 2014) said Service Corps is also an opportunity to trust God in new ways. “In my [Service Corps trip], I was serving with my own strength and eventually I fell apart. God revealed to me I cannot do this alone and that I needed his strength to be able to endure hardship and to serve.” In ministry, both at home and abroad, relying on God’s strength is our key to success. Young adults return from Service Corps with a better understanding of their own abilities, as well as the sense they can take on any challenge as they continue relying on the Lord as their strength.
3. SERVICE CORPS HELPS ENSURE THE ARMY’S FUTURE
As young adults enroll in colleges, pursue internships and enter the workforce, they begin laying a foundation which guides the direction they take later in life. Their experiences during this time shape their understanding of the world and their role within the greater kingdom of God. Service Corps inspires people not only to a lifetime of Christian service, but even to leadership within The Salvation Army. Many past Service Corps members remain faithful donors and local leaders for years after returning home, while some eventually seek employment within The Salvation Army as they continue following God’s invitation to be a part of his plan of salvation for the world.
Moreover, Service Corps has a proven track record of inspiring many to pursue officership. One past Service Corps member, Colonel Sharron Hudson, (Team USA West 1971) now a re -
tired officer, knows the impact Service Corps had on her life. “Since I grew up in a large corps…I had no idea of all the small corps in remote areas of the territory. I distinctly heard God telling me, ‘Sharron, I need you to love people,’ and it was that summer that I attribute my call to officership.”
In the 58 years of Service Corps’ history, roughly 19 percent of all members have gone on to become officers. Past Service Corps members can be found throughout Salvation Army leadership from Corps Officers to Divisional Commanders, and all the way up to the highest levels of Territorial leadership. As firsthand witnesses of the Army’s positive impact around the world, Service Corps members develop a lifelong passion for ministry and a dedication to building up God’s church.
Convinced?
Psalm 66:5 says: Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind (NIV).
By sending young adults on Service Corps, the words of this Psalm are realized—team members are given the chance to fully experience what God is doing in and through The Salvation Army as well as glimpse what he wants to invite them to in the future.
If you know someone ages 18-28, invite them to take the next step in their faith journey by applying to Service Corps. NFC
For summer 2025, the Youth Department is building two discipleship teams to serve in two international locations. For more information, please go to sayconnect.com/servicecorps.
KOREA 2014
GREECE 2019
Walmart supports Angel Tree and Red Kettle campaigns
SKILLS FROM PAGE 7
Covert said the Missoula Corps has partnered with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry for two years on a Work Experience program (WEX) that brings individuals to work at the corps through a government grant.
“Some of our staff here are participants in the WEX program,” Covert said. “We decided to build on that partnership by going back to the basics and providing individuals with opportunities to develop soft skills that will support them in applying for jobs.”
For Filori, guidance from experts in the labor industry gave him the support and assistance he needed.
“They taught me more effective ways to communicate and stay positive when talking about myself and my abilities,” Filori said. “The best thing I learned was how to sell myself in an interview.”
On the program’s final day, Filori used the gift card to
purchase new clothes and then attended an interview at a restaurant, where they offered him a job that would pay more than his position at the time. He said he didn’t hesitate to accept.
“The teachings from the facilitators were great,” Filori said. “Their one-on-one support, patience and experience in the workforce helped me get back on track.”
Workforce Consultant with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry Rosalie Hill helped facilitate the courses and developed parts of the curriculum. She said it’s all about meeting participants where they’re at.
“We let them know that it’s OK if they don’t have a lot of job experience or if they don’t have a résumé,” Hill said. “We’re here to come alongside them and help them start that process.”
She said providing a program with basic support is essential for individuals who have been out of the workforce for an extended period.
“We reintroduce simple human interactions that can lead to successful interviews,” Hill said. “They learn what professionalism looks like and how to communicate their skills and experiences to potential employers.”
Robert Covert said equipping individuals with tools for self-sufficiency boosts their confidence in what they can achieve.
“When William Booth started The Salvation Army, he did so with three S’s: soup, soap and salvation,” he said. “In our appointments, we’ve always aimed to add two more: self-sufficiency.”
Supporting self-sufficiency can put individuals in a position to take control of their lives and pursue new opportunities, he added.
The Job Skills Workshop Series will restart in February and continue with quarterly sessions.
“I feel more confident about my future because of this program,” Filori said. “I’m now focused on finding housing and going forward.” NFC
Walmart and The Salvation Army held an event Dec. 6 outside the Walmart in Burbank, California, which marked the ceremonial launch of The Salvation Army and Walmart’s partnership for the Angel Tree and Red Kettle campaigns.
|PHOTOS BY JOHN DOCTER
LT.
COLONEL
SHIRLEY MORELOCK,
JAN. 30, 1936 – SEPT. 30, 2024
Lt. Colonel Shirley Morelock was promoted to Glory Sept. 30, 2024, in Menifee, California.
Shirley was born Jan. 30, 1936, in Santa Barbara, California. She met Mervyn Morelock while both were training to become Salvation Army officers as members of the Faithful Session, commissioned in 1957. The couple wed in 1959 after serving two years as single officers.
Together, they served as corps officers in Modesto, San Jose and Sacramento, California; and as city commanders in Oakland, California. Subsequent appointments took them to the Intermountain Division and then to territorial headquarters (THQ) where Shirley was secretary for Services to Aging and editor of the Idea Kit.
From 1981–1986 they were Hawaiian and Pacific Islands divisional leaders, followed by a brief return to THQ, with Shirley as Assistant Home League Secretary. They then served as leaders in the Cascade and Southwest divisions.
Finally, before retiring in 1998, they served as territorial evangelists and officer counselors, and as coordinators for the “Call to Prayer” ministry, which they continued in retirement. Additionally, they led six tours to the Holy Land and led teams of officers and lay persons on mission service projects in Alaska, India and the Marshall Islands.
THERAPY DOGS
about an hour. Some of the teams are regulars, like Brenda Mallindine, who visits with Buster, a 5-year-old Bouvier des Flandres/Bernedoodle mix.
During their years of visits, Mallindine and Buster have seen students graduate and babies become toddlers.
“Everybody [from GO TEAM] loves going to Cardinal Academy,” she said. “We get to interact with the babies, and we get to interact with students and the staff…It’s a special place in a lot of women’s hearts, because these young couples are having babies so early in life, and we just want to support them as much as possible.”
During the holiday visit in December, the therapy dog teams bring diapers, wipes and other baby supplies for the students. At the October visit, the dogs wear Halloween costumes.
Mallandine said she enjoys watching students connect with the dogs.
“I remember when I was in high school— you’ve got a lot going on,” she said. “You’re trying to figure out what you’re going to do, who you are, who you want to be. There’s nothing more grounding than getting on the ground or on the floor with the dog and petting them and feeling that connection. Whether you’re a student, or whoever, that kind of puts
NEW APPOINTMENTS
Effective Jan. 8, 2025
CASCADE DIVISION
Major Carlos Souza, Corps Officer, South Willamette Valley Corps
Springfield, Oregon
Effective Feb. 12, 2025
ALASKA DIVISION
Captain Kevin Pope
Divisional Secretary for Business
Divisional Headquarters
Captain Heather Pope
Divisional Secretary for Program*
Divisional Headquarters
Shirley influenced countless peoples’ lives with her ministry. After retirement, she continued to serve, volunteering with “Celebrate Recovery.”
Her interests included interior decorating, gardening and reading. During her mission trips throughout the world, she spread the Good News, offering kindness and aid to those in need.
Shirley is survived by her husband of 65 years, Lt. Colonel Mervyn Morelock; children, Tad Morelock, Lauri Miller, and Mark Morelock; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Celebration of life services took place Nov. 2, 2024, at The Salvation Army Murrieta (California) Corps and Nov. 23, 2024, at The Salvation Army Phoenix Citadel Corps.
MAJOR
LYNN DICKINSON, JULY 18, 1939 – OCT. 22, 2024
Major Lynn Dee Dickinson was promoted to Glory Oct. 22, 2024, at her home in Forest Grove, Oregon.
Lynn was born July 18, 1939, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the third of four children to Lawrence and Garnet (Bradshaw) Luke. She grew up in Sandpoint, Idaho, graduating from Sandpoint High School in 1957.
While waitressing at the Corner Café in Walla Walla, Washington, she met Clifford “Cliff” Dickinson Jr., and they wed Nov. 9, 1958, in Walla Walla. They made their
everything back in perspective.”
For DJ, a student and father, having the dogs helps reduce anxiety. “It also gets my daughter used to being around dogs,” he added.
And he’s not alone—program participants often share the experience with their children.
“I like having family time all together when the dogs are here,” said Bryleigh, a student and mother.
Students and staff also collect the dogs’ trading cards—Kelzer has more than 40 cards displayed on her office wall. Each card has the dog’s photo and specifics including breed, birthdate and favorite activities.
During the visits, Kelzer said students go from dog to dog.
“They sit with them, but they’re also talking to the handlers,” she said. “So they’re getting that interaction, too. A lot of our students, they’re here, and this is a safe place for them, and then they’re at home. Sometimes home’s a safe place, and sometimes it’s not. It just depends. But this is one more layer of community.”
Mallindine said students will put their faces right up to the dogs’ faces.
“They lay down with them,” she said. “They just have those zen moments with the dog. It’s amazing to watch.” NFC
DEL ORO DIVISION
Major Beth Paugh
Associate Divisional Program Secretary
Divisional Headquarters
Captain Juan Pardo-Barriga Program Officer
Divisional Headquarters
INTERMOUNTAIN DIVISION
Major Shane Halverson
Divisional Youth Secretary—Pro-Tem*
Divisional Headquarters
Captain Ryan Boyd
Divisional Women’s Ministries
Secretary—Pro-Tem
Divisional Headquarters
*Additional responsibility
home there until 1969, when they moved to Forest Grove and started an auto repair business in nearby Cornelius, Oregon, with Lynn’s father. A homemaker and businesswoman, Lynn worked alongside her husband at their business
In 1985 the Dickinsons dedicated their lives to ministry, becoming Salvation Army Auxiliary Captains. Their appointments took them to Bend, Oregon; Reno, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and finally Tucson, Arizona. They retired in 2001 and moved back to Forest Grove. Cliff was promoted to Glory July 28, 2014.
Lynn enjoyed reading the Bible, discussing her faith and praying. She also liked classical music and poetry, drawing and painting nature scenes, and spending time with family. In her earlier years, when her daughter Cindy was a Campfire Girl, Lynn was a Campfire leader and then co-led a Campfire group for girls with disabilities.
Surviving Lynn are her six children: Brian (Robin) Dickinson, Daniel Dickinson, Cindy (Barry) Shrum, Lori Dickinson, Damien Dickinson, Tatiana (Vincent) Notto; her siblings, Larry Luke and Peggy Krong, 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Cliff; her daughter, Shannon; and her sister, Lorraine Gimlin.
A celebration of life service occurred Nov. 25, 2024, at Hillsboro Church of the Nazarene, in Hillsboro, Oregon. NFC
POWER FROM PAGE 5
customers—to bolster The Salvation Army and other local nonprofits with donations and volunteering. Using this additional campaign, Guiterrez hopes to raise HEERO’s total up to $11,000 per month.
“My team and I kept hearing that the energy burden continues to rise while agency funding continues to decline,” Guiterrez said. “This solution allows us to increase the amount of money we’re able to send our partners, while allowing our customers to help each other.”
Cruz estimates that about 350 households benefited from the HEERO program last summer. One of them was the home of an 85-year-old woman who couldn’t cov-
er her expenses after her husband died. Not only did this assistance turn her power back on, but it also introduced her to other relevant programs like Meals on Wheels—a feature Cruz and others refer to as “wraparound services,” providing people with as many opportunities for support as possible.
TEP employees are now taught about wraparound services during their training, which Cruz says is a game-changer for customers facing dire situations. Power might be first on their list of needs, but it’s OK if it’s not the last.
“It’s about community building and compassion,” Cruz said. “When this woman got the help she didn’t know was available, she told me it felt like the world was lifted off her shoulders. My goal is to get the word out for others just like her.” NFC
|PHOTO COURTESY BRENDA MALLINDINE
SUISUN CITY KROC
FROM PAGE 1
Best Christian Workplaces (BCW), a nonprofit organization, aims to help Christian organizations worldwide create healthy workplace environments. It supplies participating organizations with surveys and consulting services, and through its certification process—refined over 20 years—organizations can discover both strengths and areas of opportunity.
“We are an organization that desires to see Christian-led organizations set the standard as the best, most effective places to work in the world,” said Tara VanderSande, Senior Engagement and Talent Consultant at BCW.
Organizations are not competing with each other for certification. Any organization that earns an overall score of 4.0 or above on a five-point scale, as determined by its employees, receives the distinction.
For the period considered, 2023, in the Kroc Center’s category—parachurch and missions—62 percent of 148 participating organizations earned BCW status. VanderSande said three Kroc Centers received certification, the other two being the Omaha (Nebraska) and Ashland (Ohio) Kroc Centers.
With its 26 U.S. Kroc Centers, The Salvation Army aims to revitalize previously underserved communities by offering programs and services for people of all ages.
Steve Bireley, former Director of Operations and Coordinator for the Western Territory’s seven Kroc Centers, got the centers involved with BCW in 2023, believing the results would be valuable.
“To me, the key to success at any center is how engaged the employees are,” Bireley said. “I wanted to be able to measure that—to measure their engagement
DONAL DRAYNE
FROM PAGE 1
He jumped at the chance to help the community, providing guidance, financial support, volunteer labor and plenty of laughs and smiles. In recent years, at 76, he still fills in washing windows and sweeping floors.
When Corps Officer Captain Kristy Church arrived at the Amphi Corps, she wasn’t sure what to expect from the advisory council. Not every corps has one and those that do have varying degrees of commitment.
She said she was impressed with the caliber of people serving on the Amphi council, which is made up of a variety of people from all aspects of the community, from business to public service.
“When we were meeting with all of our council members, it was evident that they really wanted to do something more than just come to a meeting,” she said.
Drayne has been the epitome of that. When 14 of the center’s teens earned a trip to Disneyland through the annual ENCORE! music and performing arts
TO ME, THE KEY TO SUCCESS AT ANY CENTER IS HOW ENGAGED THE EMPLOYEES ARE.
—Steve Bierley
with our program and with our ministry. This is a great way to do it.”
A recent Gallup workplace study found employees working in a positive work environment are more likely to thrive overall, with more positive life experiences and enhanced mental health.
Suisun City Kroc Center HR Specialist Mary May said the entire BCW process lasted about six weeks. Employees could voluntarily fill out the survey with 56 statements that participants responded to using a scale of 1–5 (strongly disagree to strongly agree).
Among others, the statements included: The Kroc Center promotes highly capable staff/employees; My supervisor cares about me as a person; In the past year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow; The mission and goals at the Kroc Center make me feel my work is important; and I have fun at work.
May credited the center’s 90 percent employee participation to the department managers and Kroc Center Director Ron Kinney.
“It wasn’t presented as a report card,” May said. “It was presented as an opportunity to know what we’ve done well and what we need to improve upon, and what we can put in place to ensure that the associates’ voices have been heard.”
competition, he helped bridge a funding gap, then flew out for a day to spend time with the group at the park. He also helps with the seasonal kettle counting and attends various concerts and special events.
“I feel like sometimes some of our kids don’t get the support they need from home,” Church said. “But we have Donal. I just feel like our kids are very blessed to have someone like him to look up to and be an example because he’s all about service.”
His ongoing involvement and influence prompted the corps to nominate Drayne for the prestigious Life Membership award.
“I’ve never wanted to request a life membership for anybody before Donal,” she said. “He still has a good relationship with previous officers that have been at this corps. They all try to claim him. I’m like, ‘No, get in line.’”
To become a life member, an active advisory council member must have served at least 15 years before he or she is nominated.
The nomination then undergoes a vet-
“Access to reliable transportation can open doors to life-changing opportunities. By granting Uber credits for rides, we’re proud to support The Salvation Army Kroc Center and be part of their journey toward positive change,” said Erin Hart, Social Impact Manager for Uber.
The Kroc Center has been distributing the credits as vouchers on a case-by-case basis to clients and staff members.
Kroc Center Social Services Coordinator Austin-Thayer Marfori said he recently used the credits for two clients who needed to get to an appointment at a housing shelter.
“They’re 68 and it’s hard for them to get on the bus,” he said. “It’s a lot easier for them to take an Uber.”
The Suisun City Kroc Center scored 4.09 overall, with 37 of the 56 questions above a 4.0. VanderSande provided highlights from the results, including one of the center’s highest scores—an appreciation for the center’s diversity. Scores also reflected the center’s safe and encouraging environment and a consensus that the Kroc Center reflects Christ to the world and leaders demonstrate compassion to all people.
Kinney said they celebrated the results with cake for the staff.
“There was a real sense of pride, a sense of accomplishment, but there was something humbling about it as well,” May said. “It takes every single person to make a difference.”
She also credited Kinney’s leadership.
“The way he paints the picture of the vision and stays consistent with it throughout the entire year is uncanny,” she said.
The survey affirmed employees can catch that vision, which Kinney said is “to create a warm and secure environment that fosters inspiration, compassion and outreach while embracing the opportunity to transform the body, mind and spirit.”
For his part, Kinney credited the compassionate leadership of the Louangamaths, saying that under their leadership, he learned to be a compassionate leader to his team.
According to May, the survey revealed employees want more involvement in decision-making for the center. In response, several committees were formed, including engagement, safety and development. The first meetings are scheduled for November, with full implementation in January.
“Each associate has trust in each other,” Kinney said. “We all just kind of rally up together to do God’s work.” NFC
ting process, through which the nominee receives various endorsements, including those of the Divisional Commander, who then forwards the application to the Territorial Community Relations Department. The last step of the process? The Territorial Commander, who gives the approval.
Life Members receive a pin with the designation along with a certificate. Drayne was presented with the award during The Salvation Army’s Tucson-area kettle kickoff event in November 2024 by Southwest Divisional Commander Major Charles Fowler along with Church and her husband, fellow Corps Officer Captain Brent Church.
Drayne—who also serves on various community committees, plus the boards of a local hospital and the Tucson Catholic Foundation—said the responsibilities he learned from his family’s 90-yearold North Ireland dairy farm shaped his worldview.
“Everybody brings something to the table,” he said. “I bring a work ethic from the family business.”
In turn, Drayne has shaped many of the children he’s worked with over
And that’s only one way the credits have helped.
Marfori said the center first used the credits to help Yoseymila Melendes, who has a child in the center’s after-school program. Melendes was due to give birth in two weeks when she received her first ride. Without a car, she had been taking the bus to and from her doctor’s appointments.
Marfori said she told him how exhausting the bus rides had been and what a sense of relief the Uber rides brought her during her last weeks of pregnancy.
Rahul Chandra works at an urgent care, and often leaves work around 10 p.m. He received help with his commute.
“Uber credits have helped me get home from work safely when I am either very tired or do not want to take the bus really late,” he said.
The vouchers are also helping Andrew Washington—a former Kroc Center summer daycare employee—
three decades. Not long ago, he met the marketing director for one of Arizona’s NCAA bowl games. It turned out they weren’t strangers at all.
As the school-age son of a single mom, the man was enrolled in the Amphi Corps’ after-school program. Twenty years later, he still recognized Drayne and his accent.
“You always engaged us,” he told Drayne.
Drayne said the conversation strengthened his commitment to the Amphi Corps.
“He benefited from our programs and that made my day to hear a feel-good story like that,” he said.
Looking back, Drayne said he’s grateful for the peace he finds at the Amphi Corps, a world away from drama that he said often comes with hospitality work.
“I believe in the mission,” he said. “It’s easy if you believe in a mission; it’s not work. It’s a joy to be around them, and then I love motivating people. I’ve always loved doing that, motivating people and listening to them and just engaging them, making each person feel special. It’s not rocket science for goodness’ sake.” NFC
get to and from his job, which had required an hourand-a-half commute each way, including a 30-minute shuttle ride to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) metro station and then 50 minutes on the train.
“During a transit issue that caused delays with the metro line, I was able to get to my destination, thanks to the Uber app for being quick and user friendly,” Washington said. “Within minutes, I was connected to a driver and worry-free of public transit.”
He said being able to call an Uber at any time makes him feel better when going to work on last-minute notice, especially when it’s in an unfamiliar area.
The credits also help some Kroc Center employees manage a long commute, making continued employment at the center possible. Pritisha Kumar, an after-school program staff member, has used the credits to travel to work from Pittsburgh (California), about 41 miles from San Francisco. NFC
ALASKA
Incarcerated individuals build toys for kids
At the Point Mackenzie Correctional Farm (PMCF) in Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Borough, incarcerated individuals built 200 wooden cars that were distributed to kids in need across the Mat-Su Valley through The Salvation Army. Divisional Commander Major Henry Graciani told KTUU-TV: “This is a beautiful experience and expression of community working together to support those in need.”
CASCADE
The Salvation Army Boise (Idaho) Corps hosted an awards ceremony for Idaho Governor Brad Little, who received the National Charter School Award. Little also toured The Salvation Army Boise Corps campus, focusing on The Booth Program for Young Parents and the Cardinal Academy, a charter school for pregnant or parenting young people.
“Without a partnership with the State of Idaho and Cardinal Academy, we would not be able to provide successful assistance and education to students,” said Southern Idaho Coordinator and Boise Corps Administrator Major Premek Kramerius. “We are very grateful to Governor Little for his support of our school.”
DEL ORO
The Guy Fieri Foundation partnered with the Santa Rosa (California) Salvation Army to support families and individuals in Sonoma County during the holidays by preparing meals. With its help, The Salvation Army provided more than 2,300 Thanksgiving meals to those in need.
On Dec. 18, 2024, celebrity chef Guy Fieri continued a Christmas tradition, ringing a bell and collecting Red Kettle donations at the Santa Rosa Plaza.
Majors John and Pamilla Brackenbury are Del Oro divisional leaders.
GOLDEN STATE
Ridgecrest rescues food
The City of Ridgecrest (California) donated $70,000 to The Salvation Army toward the purchase of a new refrigerated van—the “Food Rescue Vehicle.” According to Corps Officer Captain Gina Noble, in fiscal year 2023-2024, the corps recovered 457,783 lbs. of edible food from local retailers and restaurants.
“This opportunity gives us the ability to safely recover a greater amount of food for our high desert community,” said Corps Officer Captain Chris Noble. “It ensures this program has sustainability.”
HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDS
Hanapepe Corps debuts new sign
The Hanapepe (Hawaii) Corps in Kauai lacked signage, which often caused confusion with the community center next door. When Corps Officers Lts. Jose and Andrielli Gonzalez invited longtime supporters from Captain Andy’s, a boat tour agency, to tour the soup kitchen, employees missed the entrance.
When the Gonzalezes shared they were looking for someone to help them make a sign, the guests said they could connect them with their sign maker. “A week later they reached out to us again and said that Captain Andy’s would love to not only introduce us to their sign maker but also donate the signs to The Salvation Army,” Jose Gonzalez said. “The sign went up around mid mid-November.”
INTERMOUNTAIN
Denver Mattress gives back
Building on a 25-year partnership with The Salvation Army, Denver Mattress pledged to match all donations up to $150,000 throughout December 2024. Donors who gave through an online link had their contributions doubled, dollar-for-dollar. Denver Red Shield Corps Officer Captain Ryan Boyd told Fox 31 News the funds will help meet the unique needs of local communities, supporting food banks, youth programs and more.
NORTHWEST
Christmas on ice with Seattle Kraken Goalie
Seattle Kraken goalie and Salvation Army Northwest Youth Ambassador Philipp Grubauer taught kids from The Salvation Army after-school programs how to ice skate at The Kraken Community Ice Complex Nov. 22, 2024. After the lessons, Santa Claus made a special appearance, handing out toys to each participant. Extending his support to The Salvation Army, Grubauer nominated the Northwest Division for the Kraken’s One Roof Foundation, resulting in a $32,000 donation to support youth ministry in Seattle.
Lt. Col. Cindy Foley is the Northwest Divisional Commander.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
LA Rams host Christmas shopping spree
On Dec. 16, 2024, 100 kids from Southern California Salvation Army community centers enjoyed a $200 shopping spree at Walmart, sponsored by the Los Angeles Rams. Rams players and cheerleaders shopped alongside the kids, helping them select gifts such as electronics, action figures, dolls and bikes.
“The Rams aren’t just champions on the field; they’re champions in our community,” said Major Lisa Barnes, Divisional Secretary for Metro Los Angeles. “Tonight, they gave more than just gifts; they gave hope, joy, and the feeling of being seen.”
Valley youth give big at soccer tournament
From Dec. 6-8, 2024, hundreds of youth participated in the Christmas Angels Soccer Tournament, held for 20 years in the Phoenix Valley area. Players, coaches and trainers bring at least one gift with a minimum of value of $10 as part of their entrance into the tournament, and some 50,000 gifts have been collected to support The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program since its inception.
This year, 345 teams filled one-and-a-half 20-foot box trucks from floor to ceiling with toys, games, bikes, scooters, soccer balls and more.“ The soccer community is such a special niche of people and we really rally behind things,” said Donor Relations Director Pamelle Easterling, who grew up playing in similar tournaments. Majors Charles and Shari Fowler are the Southwest Divisional leaders.
ARCC
Beneficiaries volunteer at Bakersfield Toy Run
At the 41st annual Bakersfield Toy Run and Food Drive Dec. 8, 2024, which supported families served by The Salvation Army, beneficiaries from the Bakersfield Adult Rehabilitation Center greeted attendees and volunteered to collect and load food and some 800 toys onto vehicles for transport.
“Being of service and expressing the joy they have in Jesus and their new life has meant so much to our men,” said Major Ronalee Fenrich, Administrator for program at The Salvation Army Bakersfield Adult Rehabilitation Center.
CFOT
A legend is honored
The College for Officer Training at Crestmont held a retirement celebration Nov. 1, 2024 for Luisa Martinez, recognizing her 40 years of service to CFOT’s kids— children of cadets and CFOT officers. “Ms. Luisa” has cared for generations of babies and youngsters, some of whom are officers today, including CFOT Business Officer Captain Travis Yardley, who spoke at the event, as did CFOT Training Principal Major Terry Masango.
“I loved my job with all my heart,” Martinez said. “I would like to thank all the cadets, the parents and the officers for entrusting their kids under my care.” NFC
Idaho Governor visits Boise Salvation Army
Guy Fieri continues a Christmas tradition
SOUTHWEST
MANY OF OUR CHRISTMAS VOLUNTEERS ARE TALENTED IN A VARIETY OF AREAS AND ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SHARE THEIR SKILLS TO DO GOOD.
—LA Metro Volunteer Coordinator Katherine Fukuda
Ways to engage Christmas volunteers for year-round impact
ATChristmastime, The Salvation Army activates with urgency across the U.S., helping thousands of individuals and families in need with gifts, meals and other forms of assistance. Volunteers often make the effort to brighten the holidays possible, and for many, the holidays are when they give back with The Salvation Army for the first time.
But need knows no season, and extra hands are needed year round. The generosity that spurs volunteers to engage at Christmas doesn’t have to stop there. New Frontier Chronicle spoke with LA Metro Volunteer Coordinator Katherine Fukuda and Golden State Development and Volunteer Specialist Emma Ladine for tips for engaging Christmas volunteers all year.
6 WAYS TO ENGAGE CHRISTMAS VOLUNTEERS FOR YEAR-ROUND IMPACT
1. Build relationships
“Make the effort to meet and build relationships with volunteers that come into your sphere this Christmas,” Ladine said. “Get to know their interests, whether they work and/or have a flexible schedule, and what gets them excited—that way when you reach out for their help later in the year, they know who they are talking to, and you know what opportunities will capture their interest.”
2. Maintain contact info
“Make sure you are capturing and recording contact information and other important information you learn about your volunteers,” Ladine said. “Phone numbers and emails are critical to save in your database so you can reach out to people when help is needed, and keeping notes about your volunteers and their interests will help jog your memory when you reach out.”
3. Share impact
“Send thank you notes after their Christmas-related shifts and in the new year,” Fukuda said. “To make your note even more special, include photos from the event
and the impact they made that day (e.g.: How many families received toys, dollar amount raised, etc.).”
4. Make it a good experience
“Get creative with your thanks, like hosting a volunteer appreciation dinner or giving small gifts at the end of the year, or just keep it simple and send them an email after they serve—both are meaningful,” Ladine said.
Last year, The Southern California Division created calendars for corps to share with their top volunteers. Each month of the calendar highlighted artwork from children at the Army’s daycares, and included important Salvation Army and non-Salvation Army related holidays to remind volunteers to stay involved.
5. Share Skill-Based Volunteer Opportunities
“We’ve noticed quite a few corps and programs need specialized skills for their day-to-day operations and of-
ten don’t have the personpower,” Fukuda said. “Many of our Christmas volunteers are talented in a variety of areas and are looking for ways to share their skills to do good. Being able to identify and match volunteer skills (e.g., graphic design, social media, data entry, or teaching) with specific projects or initiatives will allow them to contribute meaningfully throughout the year.”
6. Offer Continuous Volunteer Opportunities
“Sharing opportunities throughout the year such as supporting our food pantries, after-school programs or disaster response can help highlight how their skills and time can make a long-term difference in their community,” Fukuda said. “Additionally, any events around big holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Easter and Veterans Day are great times to invite individuals and groups to volunteer.” NFC
