You Tweeted WHAT?!

If you’re going to spend your free time on social media anyway, why not tweet for good? Come out to the Rooftop Terrace Bar at the Moonrise Hotel on May 21, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., #TweetTheMostGood alongside Social Media Club St. Louis, and hear Don Hutcheson from Panera Bread talk about the Meal of Shared Responsibility. Learn how St. Louis-area bakery-cafes are helping to fight local food insecurity one Turkey Chili Sourdough Bread Bowl at a time! Tickets are only $5.00, fully donated to Salvation Army of St. Louis, and free appetizers will be served until 7:00 p.m.

For tickets and more information, visit http://tweetthemostgood2013.eventbrite.com/#

Can’t make it but would still like to help? Visit our page to make a donation but we’d love to see you there!

The Sewing Room: A Mother’s Day tribute

This post is written by Major Kris Wood: he currently serves with his wife, Mary Ann as The Salvation Army Corps Officers of the St. Louis Maplewood Corps. He has three children that bring the greatest joy to his life. His mother, Ruth Wood, lives in active retirement with her husband, Max Wood, in Clearwater, Florida.

Major Kris Wood’s mother, Ruth.

I grew up in one of the oldest houses in the city of Oak Park, Michigan. I saw a picture of our house and the neighbor’s house after they were built and to the west of them was nothing but a forest of Oak trees. No houses were around. It is no wonder that we lived at the corner of Oak Park Blvd. and Forest. It was an old house with unique things like the coal shoot and the oil burner furnace. The coal shoot was a cast iron door built into the foundation of our house. We had paid someone to weld it shut after the coal burning furnace was replaced by the oil burner. I remember the oil truck pulling up beside our house and the long hose that looked like the gas station hose was pulled to a receptacle at the side of our house, where the oil man would fill the large metal oil tank that sat where the coal bin had once sat. Time and progress took their places and the oil burner was removed and a “modern” natural gas burning stove was installed into our house. It was a huge change because what had once been the “furnace room” was now an empty room and my Mother quickly claimed it as hers. She did not care that the walls were stained black by coal dust or that there was always the hint of oil in the air; it was her room. Looking back, I see that in that old house there was no place where my Mom could call hers. She had to share everything with my Dad and all five of us children. So, that room, with all of its downfalls became my Mother’s sanctuary; her sewing room. Every day after I walked home from school my Mom would be in the basement in her sewing room. The sound of a.m. radio was loud so that she could hear it over the sound of her old Singer Sewing machine. She listened to her station of choice as the different deep male voices would update the news, play music from my Mom’s era and add just a bit of humor to fill her afternoons. The station would spin the tunes of Sinatra and Count Basie and intersperse cute little stories of family times and hayrides, picnics in the park and days at the beach. My Mom had her own little escape where she could be alone and enjoy what she enjoyed and allow her creative juices to flow. When I think of my Mom, I think first of her amazing ability to create things. She could create beautiful afghan blankets, detailed needle point wall hangings and she could knit the cutest sweaters for every newborn baby in our church. All of these things showed her amazing skills but sewing was where my Mother excelled the most. Sewing was where things got serious for my mother. She was always making wedding dresses for brides and bridesmaids. I have to confess that I had my share of time holding a dress pattern in place as my Mother pinned the pattern to the material she was going to use to make the dress. Sometimes I would even have to cut material for her as she held a delicate section together with her hands. Most of the time, my sisters would be her helpers but when a full wedding ensemble was being made in the basement all hands were needed to help. So, there we were, all holding corners of material, placing pins and needles precisely where my Mom directed them to be. Her ability to see the finished product long before it had taken form was amazing. Her minor changes in the patterns created the much needed personal touch that took a dress from being like all the others to being a uniquely crafted piece of art. My Mom was an artist. It is the ability of a Mother to see the finished product long before it takes form, to look at the uncut, flat and lifeless material and see not what others see but what will be. My Mother saw in me something no one else saw and something I never saw for myself when she looked at my scrawny, socially inept awkward boyhood life and saw the kind of man I would become. She saw in me a writer, a preacher and a teacher when I was terrified of people and felt that no one would care to read anything I ever wrote. She saw in me the sensitivity to God’s voice that would move my life to become a Salvation Army Officer, just as her parents had been Salvation Army Officers. I felt inadequate and so much less than what others expected me to be but my Mom knew what I would be and became my biggest fan. Her encouragement was like that special little touch to the dress that made it something special. I feel that I am a unique and capable person because of all the encouragement my Mom gave me over the years. Today, my Mom can’t sew anymore because arthritis has taken its brutal toll on her fingers, she does some needle point and cross stitch but only if she can force herself through terrible pain. She sits on her couch and does crossword puzzles and watches 24 hour news on the television. Yet, she still sees in people things that they don’t see in themselves. She may be 85 years old but her ability to “mother” people has not lessened at all. She still is the voice of encouragement to the young man or young woman in her church telling them the great things God has in store for their lives. She is still helping to mold and shape lives as she looks to what people can be rather than what they are. Although her memory is not what it used to be, her vision is still perfect. She sees what God sees when He looks at people. She sees what people will be, not what they are. I am reminded that God looks beyond the outward appearances of people and sees our hearts. He knows what we can be and He encourages us to move in that direction. He is our biggest fan as he gently pins and shapes and sometimes trims away the material of our lives that is no longer needed. He cheers for us as he guides us toward the person He has always known we could be.

Major Kris Wood with children from Maplewood Corps

Priceless

This post is written by Dana Biermann, Digital Marketing and Communication Manager.

Getting ready in line to ‘bat’ in kickball at Temple Corps

Yesterday, Ashley Kuenstler (our Content Specialist) and myself went out to our Temple Corps in St. Louis City to get some pictures of the kids in the evening programs that are offered there.

We got to spend the evening watching kids play kickball, while other tiny ones were in the Moonbeams character building program carefully creating hand-print art for their moms, and another group was practicing the National Anthem to perform for our Behind the Red Shield Gala this Friday.

Now, judging by the after-school programs and evening activities I had growing up, I was expecting chaos: TONS of kids, leaders shouting to get their attention, kids being mean to each other… just general rowdiness.

And I could not have been more wrong.

The kids were so well-behaved. They were so supportive of each other, and even during kickball when the tiniest of players had his turn kicking the ball (and his team expected he would get tagged out), the bigger kids were cheering him on and being very patient. All of them were having a blast. And when one child kicked the ball so hard that he homered into the street, the leaders very calmly and patiently brought all the kids together and they listened intently as he reminded them of the safety procedures when someone gets a home run and why their safety was so important. They all nodded in agreement, and went back to the game.

This made me smile so big. Our motto is Doing The Most Good, and yesterday, I saw the most good being encouraged in these kids by the amazing leadership at Temple Corps. We don’t have these programs for the sake of having them: we have them because they are needed. Kids need positive outlets in nurturing environments in all neighborhoods, and in Benton Park, we have that. We also have it in North City, Maplewood, and South City, and all over the county and the region. And for the kids in these programs, the benefits are priceless.

We need your help to make sure that our city corps have the after-school funding they need by voting for us to win $20,000. You can vote every day and know that it is going toward the betterment of these amazing kids in great programs. But we can’t do that without you. Stop by Monsanto’s Grow St. Louis Facebook page and vote for us every day through May 19th. 

On behalf of all the kids in our programs, thank you!

Keep praying

Ashley Kuenstler, Content Specialist at the Midland Division Headquarters, was inspired to write this after a Corps Officer showed her some of the prayer requests they were getting. We get so many, and we pray for all of you.

 

People turn to The Salvation Army every day to answer their prayers. When they wonder how they will put food on their family’s table, overcome substance abuse, clothe their children, or afford the medication they need to survive, we are there to answer those prayers.

But sometimes, prayers cannot be answered tangibly. They request the repair of broken hearts, help overcoming illness, and guidance on how to handle life’s cruelest curveballs.

The Salvation Army receives hundreds of such prayer requests each week. Some of them are more light-hearted, like these two we received in one of our Illinois Worship and Community Centers:

“Please help me like my little sister even though she is really annoying.”

“I could really use some help passing my ACT.”

Other prayer requests from all over break our heart:

“I am a Hurricane Katrina survivor living in St. Louis. My son is 39-years-old and an epileptic. I cannot find him here in St. Louis. Please, God, help me find him.”

“Please pray for the unborn child of Chris and Christine. Doctors are afraid that the baby will not survive.”

The Salvation Army is a church first and foremost. We know shelter, food, and monetary assistance are important, but we also realize that a listening ear and friend are imperative in the road to spiritual healing.

Each of 23 Worship and Community Centers in the Midland Division accept prayer requests at any time and offer church services every Sunday. If you need someone to pray with you or simply listen to what’s weighing on your heart, we encourage you to utilize this aspect of The Salvation Army. The locations of each of our Worship and Community Centers can be found on our website, http://www.stlsalvationarmy.org.

Others in the St. Louis region are praying for reconciliation between family members; a mother-in-law, Margaret, who has lung cancer; Joanne, who is dealing with depression; for her daughter, Brianna, to grow into a woman of God; for school grades to improve; and help finding a job.

What’s weighing heavily on your heart? Who can we pray for in your life?

An Earth Day view

This post is written by Dana Biermann, Digital Marketing and Communication Manager at the Divisional Headquarters for the Midland Division. She likes social media, and giving people huge hugs. Also, SPRINGTIME!

We have so much to be thankful for when it comes to our world.

We have been given a GORGEOUS earth filled with fantastic things for our amusement and appreciation. Just here in St. Louis we have some of the most wonderful green spaces and sites filled with beauty for our enjoyment. I remember driving through St. Louis as a young adult from Ohio and crossing over the mighty Mississippi in awe of the most massive river I have ever seen in person. I’d keep my face pressed to the window just looking at how huge that thing is. And when I moved here, I wanted to high-five the city of St. Louis for making a space such as Forest Park a priority and ensuring free activities within it, and the county for protecting parks for our quality of life.

Then again, I come from a place of privilege. I can leave the comfort of my home and break out of there to tap into these options. No, I’m not wealthy… I’m barely middle class. I live in an apartment with my new husband and have student loan debts and car payments, but we get by. And we can utilize these spaces when we know we can’t spend much for the rest of the week. And that’s just fine by us.

But enjoying the outdoors comes quickly into perspective when you work with people who call the outdoors the place where they sleep. It no longer is a place of retreat, it’s a place of survival; finding food out of the garbage from festivals, or trying to find an overpass under which you can sleep.

The Salvation Army wants everyone to get to a place where we can enjoy the good stuff, including faith. I’m paraphrasing, but our founder William Booth said that no one ever found God when they had a toothache–and the same goes for a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, feeling loved in our whole being and knowing that we are valued.

But we cannot get everyone to this place without you. More needs to be done to get the outdoors to be a place of refuge instead of a place of last resort.

A friendly face

When disasters hit, our volunteers will be there to greet you with a smile.

The perfect recipe for comfort

 

This article is written by Ashley Kuenstler, Content Specialist for The Salvation Army Midland Division.

When you step foot inside the O’Fallon Worship and Community Center, the first thing you will notice is the smell.

If you allow your nose to guide you, you’ll weave your way through tiled hallways until you find the source. And on this particular day, it was roasted chicken, homemade mashed potatoes, and freshly baked bread.

“It’s almost intoxicating,” said O’Fallon Shelter Manager Peggy Sherwin. “It’s a host of smells that take me back to when I was a kid in the South, playing on the sidewalk and smelling the chicken from inside my grandmother’s house.”

These are the types of reactions Ayla Rashad w orks every day to provide to the families of the O’Fallon shelter. Through some kitchen appliances, cooking utensils, and a variety of ingredients, Rashad has been serving up comfort to shelter residents for five years.

“Her food gives a sense of comfortability, security, and warmth that are so important to our shelter families,” said Sherwin. “Those aromas remind them of home and of better times; a perfect environment to get their lives back on track.”

Rashad creates home-cooked meals twice a day for approximately 30 people. Each meal consists of a meat, vegetable, starch, bread, and dessert – all from scratch. And on Fridays, she works double-time and prepares meals for the entire weekend. If you ask her to talk about this seemingly stressful job, she will illuminate the room.

“This isn’t a job, it’s me doing what I love every day of my life,” said Rashad. “Cooking is just what I’m meant to do; it’s my purpose. The only part that makes it a chore is the dishes.”

Rashad is passionate for not just her food – but the shelter residents as well. She enjoys getting creative in the kitchen to keep residents on their toes and ensure they enjoy every meal.

“One time a family of six was staying in the shelter and they were all vegetarian,” she said. “I had never cooked with tofu before, so I went into my kitchen and didn’t come out until I could cook meals they could eat, too. I think they were shocked to be in a shelter and have someone cater to them.”

Employees and clients alike agree that Rashad is the facility’s cornerstone, bringing people together around a dinner table for fellowship on a daily basis. When it comes to her cooking, there are only two things she won’t do: make boxed meals or use a microwave.

“I just can’t use it,” she said with a laugh. “I tried cooking minute rice in the microwave before, and it came out inedible. I couldn’t do it right. You want some rice? Give me a pot and some boiling water and I’ll make you some rice.”

During her tenure with the shelter, Rashad said her role was put into perspective when a neighbor from her childhood was a resident there.

“When I saw her in the shelter, I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I mean, I knew this girl growing up; I knew her entire family. And I realized I could help her. I could help take care of her with the food I was making.”

“She loves engaging with the residents and genuinely cares about they want and need,” Sherwin continued. “You will find so much when you visit her kitchen: amazing food, plenty of laughs, fellowship, and that feeling of comfort; you’ll just never find any leftovers.”

To learn about how you can help cook at our Worship and Community Centers, please visit our Volunteer page. 

We wouldn’t kid about this… ever

It’s April Fool’s Day. I’m sure you’ve already been hit with a variety of jokes and pranks today, but we’re going to get serious on you. Like, super serious. We’re not even going to crack a smile. Because conditions are ripe for severe weather season in Missouri and Illinois and we want to make sure you’re ready for it.

Ready?

Here’s what you need to prepare for the worst:

Emergency Supplies:
Each family or individual’s preparedness kit should be customized to meet specific needs, such as medications and infant formula. It should also be customized to include important family documents.

Recommended Supplies to Include in a Basic Preparedness Kit:
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First Aid kit
- Whistle, with a lanyard, to signal for help
- Infant formula and diapers, if you have an infant
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Dust mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Knife, and a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)

Clothing and Bedding:
Nights can still get chilly in April, so you must think about warmth. It is possible that the power will be out and you will not have heat. Rethink your clothing and bedding supplies to account for growing children and other family changes. One complete change of warm clothing and shoes per person, including:
- A jacket or coat
- Long pants
- A long sleeve shirt
- Sturdy shoes
- A hat and gloves
- A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person

Below are some other items for your family to consider adding to its supply kit. Some of these items, especially those marked with a * can be dangerous, so please have an adult collect these supplies.

- Rain gear
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
- Cash or traveler’s checks, change
- Paper towels
- Fire Extinguisher
- Tent
- Compass
- Matches in a waterproof container*
- Signal flare*
- Paper, pencil
- Personal hygiene items including feminine supplies
- Disinfectant*
- Household chlorine bleach* – You can use bleach as a disinfectant (diluted nine parts water to one part bleach), or in an emergency you can also use it to treat water. Use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
- Medicine dropper
- Important Family Documents such as copies of driver’s licenses, passports, insurance policies, various personal identifications, medical cards, and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container.

An Easter Surprise

This post is written by Major Brenda Herivel is the Divisional Secretary for Program and oversees the ministerial aspects of The Salvation Army in Missouri and Southern Illinois.

I love surprises! Be it a flower from my husband, an unexpected lunch date with a friend, or even a cancelled meeting that frees up my afternoon, I welcome these unexpected times with my arms wide open. And of course, a story comes to mind.

A family was riding home from church one Easter Sunday.  The parents were wondering if their 4 year old daughter understood the story of Easter after being in her first Easter Sunday School Class.  Dad and Mom carefully questioned her as to what she had learned that day.

She said, “God sent his son Jesus at Christmas, and then Jesus grew up.  He taught people about God.  Then they killed him.”

Her parents gave each other that wide-eyed sideways look across the front seat of their car.  “Oh no,” they thought.

But then, out of the backseat came their girl’s sweet voice with “Surprise!” “Jesus rose up and beat death.  Now he lives in heaven, and we’ll get to live there with him!”

That is the truth of Easter from the mouth of a little girl. “SURPRISE!”  It is my hope that you fully understand the joy of the Jesus surprise this Easter.

NISC Comes to the Rescue

When it heard The Salvation Army’s O’Fallon food pantry was running low on select items, a local company banded together and collected more than one ton of food to feed local families. 

After touring the O’Fallon food pantry and temporary housing facilities, National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC), based in Lake St. Louis, challenged its employees this week to collect 1,000 pounds of dry goods, specifically rice, pasta and sauce, cereal, dried beans, canned meat, canned fruit, and peanut butter.

The results shattered all expectations. In one week, NISC collected 2,140 pounds of food.

According to Capt. Paul Ferguson of the O’Fallon Worship and Community Center, the food pantry currently serves more than 700 families for month. With the addition of NISC’s generosity, St. Charles County families will now have plenty of food for at least the next month.

“It’s just absolutely wonderful,” said Capt. Paul Ferguson of the O’Fallon Worship and Community Center. “I can’t even begin to say how appreciative we are. When I met with the employees at the end of the food drive, you could see on their faces how excited they were to do this for us. They realized hunger isn’t too far away from any of us, and that there are probably people in their own neighborhoods who will benefit from this food.”

In the past two years, Capt. Ferguson said the pantry has seen an overwhelming surge in need, serving 40-50 families per month to now serving closer to 750 families per month.

Rocha said NISC hopes to hold another food drive later this year to benefit The Salvation Army and challenges other companies and businesses to follow suit. “It’s something easy that any company or business could do, and it’s something that will ensure the families in our community do not go hungry.”

If your organization or business is interested in hosting a food drive for any of The Salvation Army food pantries, please contact Janice Anderson at (314) 646-3194.