Delegates find motivation in their service for God.

By Beverley Lloyd, Major

At Northwest Youth Councils 2013—“Unexpected”—young people were changed by God.

During the Sunday service testimony time, one youth testified that over the weekend her calling to serve as a special needs teacher and to help in her home corps was confirmed; another testified to his call to officership in the coming years. Yet another confessed that God called her to go now to Hawaii to serve on the Revolution Hawaii team.

Delegates found motivation in their service for God in their daily lives at workshops on Bible study, missions work, turning failure into an advantage, and missional living.

Youth enjoyed activities including a Nerf war, dance party, carpet ball game, zip line and crafts—or just staying out of the colossal rain storm!

The sale of WARdrobe’s “Doing the Most Good” t-shirt raised nearly $1,000 to help support Salvation Army children’s homes in Sri Lanka. In addition, delegates also contributed $668 to sponsor two children from Sri Lanka through The Salvation Army’s Overseas Child sponsorship program.

Jonathan Taube led worship, ushering in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Messages by Captain Shevaun Malone, Rob Noland and Major Tim Foley led to seekers every night.

Saturday was unexpectedly nerdy as delegates attended a nerd banquet and had a blast at “The Brain Show.” Participants are now dance experts with a repertoire of 15 nerdy dances.

During the most unexpectedly fun weekend of the year, leaders were trained, the Bible studied and friendships forged.

Thanks to our not unexpected God who is faithful and constant and always shows up!

Seattle ARC booth at the Northwest Women’s Show Photo by Lora Marini Baker

Northwest Women’s Show brings over 20,000 shoppers.

By Lora Marini Baker

For the third consecutive year, the Seattle Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) created a “pop-up” boutique at the annual Northwest Women’s Show in western Washington, now in its 25th year, which hosts exhibits, entertainment and demonstrations in fashion, fitness and food. This year, it attracted more than 20,000 attendees during the three-day event in early March.

All clothing, accessories and merchandise in the pop-up boutique were for sale, culled from the store’s current collection and donated by community members. The 2,000-sq.-ft. temporary boutique featured a variety of the store’s best merchandise.

“We brought a careful selection of clothing and merchandise to the show,” Northwest ARC Administrator Captain Timothy Rockey said. “This is an opportunity to introduce The Salvation Army ARC and Family Store to a new audience, and we wanted to surprise them with the quality of our merchandise.”

Along with introducing shoppers to The Salvation Army Family Store, including discount coupons to the local store, the pop-up boutique also reminded shoppers that their purchases supported life-saving programs.

“We continually meet people who don’t realize that the Family Store supports the ARC program,” Rockey said. “This is another reminder of The Salvation Army and ARC missions.”

Samples of New Day coffee—an ARC brand resulting from a direct trade coffee project between The Salvation Army and coffee growers in Vietnam—were offered and 12-ounce bags (whole beans or ground) were sold for $5.50.

In addition to ARC staff, volunteers from Northwest Divisional Headquarters, the ARC Advisory Council and others worked alongside program beneficiaries and alumni to keep the sales area organized and filled with merchandise, helping the pop-up boutique to exceed its previous year’s sales.

Olympic swimmer Nathan Adrian and capital campaign manager Tina Boewe
Photo by Lora Marini Baker

Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian attends campaign announcement.

By Lora Marini Baker

The Salvation Army announced Jan. 27 at the Norm Dicks Government Center that it will expand its facility and services in Bremerton, Wash., to include a hygiene center and new corps community center.

The project, scheduled to begin construction this year, is in its final fundraising phase. To date, local donors and funding agencies have donated 85 percent of the cost.

“We’ve received several generous gifts from leaders in the Kitsap community during the last year,” said Major Doug Tollerud, Northwest divisional commander. “Now, we need just a bit more to make the new building a reality.”

Tollerud and his wife, Sheryl, led the event with Bremerton Corps Officers Majors James and Marcia Baker, Bremerton native and Olympic gold medal swimmer Nathan Adrian, and Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent. More than 200 members of the Kitsap County community attended.

Adrian is a member of The Salvation Army “family” in western Washington. His father, Jim Adrian, is currently chairman of the advisory board in Bremerton. At the event, Adrian spoke about how his parents consistently demonstrated the importance of giving back to the community.

The Bremerton project includes a renovation of the current building (built in 1965), and construction of a new building adjacent to it. A portion of the current facility, built in 1943, will be torn down.

At 16,000 square feet, the new facility will include a renovated kitchen and dining hall for community meals, food and clothing banks, a hygiene center, caseworker offices and classrooms, and a church for Sunday services.

The current Salvation Army facility in Walla Walla,
Wash. Photo by Donna Miranda

Construction will begin this year on a new building.

By Lora Marini Baker

The Salvation Army is expanding its services in Walla Walla, Wash., with a new building to include a larger food bank, additional space for a community kitchen and case management offices.

The project, scheduled to begin construction this year, is in its final phase of fundraising. To date, 85 percent of the cost has been contributed by local donors and funding agencies.

“We’ve received several generous gifts from leaders in the Walla Walla community during the last year,” said Major Douglas Tollerud, Northwest divisional commander. “Now, we need just a bit more to make the new food bank a reality.”

Despite its small size, the food bank currently serves 628 families per month. The new facility—at almost 4,000 square feet—will be 10 times the size of the current space. It will allow for better storage and larger provisions, and opportunities like cooking lessons in the community kitchen.

“Some of the fresh produce available to clients may be fruits or vegetables they haven’t cooked with in the past,” Tollerud said. “If we can teach them how to cook butternut squash, for example, they will be more likely to use the produce they receive from us.”

The Salvation Army has provided services to members of this community since 1892, including more than 7,932 families in 2012. In addition to the food bank, other programs include emergency assistance for rent and utility bills, back to school backpacks and school supplies, summer camps for kids and teens, and holiday programs that include meals, food baskets and toy donations.

Donations may be made online via donate.salvationarmyusa.org (specify for the Walla Walla food bank).

Northwest Divisional Commander Major Doug Tollerud with actor/comedian Joel McHale (left) and musician Chris Ballew Photo by Bee Bryant

Seattle native was master of ceremonies for festive occasion benefiting The Salvation Army.

By Lora Marini Baker

“Gimme Shelter,” a Salvation Army Northwest Divisional fund and awareness raiser for its downtown Seattle 24-bed women’s shelter, featured Joel McHale—best known for hosting “The Soup” and for his role as Jeff Winger on the NBC comedy series Community—as master of ceremonies.

The event, held at Hale’s Palladium and organized by advisory board member Patsy Pattison, raised $35,000 via sponsorship, $125 ticket sales and a live auction.

“This event is a perfect example of advisory board members getting behind a project,” said Major Doug Tollerud, Northwest divisional commander. “The board is the reason this event was successful.”

McHale, who grew up near Seattle on Mercer Island and graduated from the University of Washington, donated his time. Local performers Chris Ballew, star of musical groups Caspar Babypants and Presidents of the United States of America, and the Microsoft Jumpin’ Jive Orchestra, also entertained the audience.

In a video interview, Sandra, a current resident of the women’s shelter, shared her story of homelessness and expressed appreciation for The Salvation Army. She surprised the audience by coming onstage and thanking donors for their generosity.

Four acts from the local “Moisture Festival,” the world’s largest comedy/varietè festival, concluded the evening: plate spinner Henrik Bothe, silent clown Godfrey Daniels, aerialist Lara Paxton, and physical comedian Bill Robison.

Raised funds will support the women’s shelter, where women can stay for a few days or several months, depending on their needs, while a caseworker supports their transition to independent living.

Yakima Temple Corps enrolls new junior soldiers (l-r): Major Doug Tollerud, Soilda Flores, Christopher Cervantes, Irvin Flores, Jonathan Cervantes, Stefanie Cervantes, Major Francisco Flores, Major Irma Flores. Photo by: Sheryl Tollerud

Salvation Army Northwest Divisional Leaders Majors Doug and Sheryl Tollerud recently officiated the enrollment of seven senior soldiers and four junior soldiers at the Yakima (Wash.) Temple Corps.

The soldiers are from two new families who joined the corps in recent months.

“It is exciting to see the father and mother with all their children from two families make a commitment to the Lord and the Army,” said Major Sheryl Tollerud. “What a great witness to the community of growing healthy Christian families who want to serve the Lord together!”

Majors Francisco and Irma Flores are Yakima Temple corps officers.

The Salvation Army in Billings, Mont., inherited its feeding program in 2009 when the Montana Rescue Mission turned over the program and a van—named “Fireball”—to the corps. In 2011, the Army connected the ministry with the area’s Growing Community program, which supports local community gardens, to take advantage of agricultural initiatives.

Recently, the corps retired the 1978 Fireball van, used to deliver food for the re-named Community Table program, but made no plans to retire the food deliveries.

“The need has certainly grown as people are having a rougher go,” said Corps Officer Major Linda Jackson. “The meals at least help people stretch their resources.”

Pastor Rob Johnson and members of Faith Evangelical Church of Billings have been preparing and delivering food with the Community Table program for two years. Members of the church held a fundraiser, collecting $4,800, and purchased a 10-year-old FedEx truck, which they refurbished repaired.

Each weeknight, Community Table volunteers staff this truck and another one, and spend up to three hours making 20 stops with food, delivering about 400 meals a night. Each route is a 20-mile round trip: a $200-a-week gas expense.

The Army believes the outcome outweighs the cost, and Johnson maintains that no one’s spiritual needs can be met if their basic needs for food and shelter aren’t met first. Jackson added that driving through the community also alerts the volunteers to other needs.

About 70 percent of those served are children. During summer months, the Army often doubles its daily meals. In 2011, Community Table served 102,000 meals.

“The program truly is a community table—a community effort for our community members,” said Krista Ness, outreach ministries coordinator and Community Table director. “And it’s so important. You go out in these trucks and see young kids come up to the window…this might be the only meal they’ll have all day.”

Nampa Corps youth chorus performs at the Harvest Gala. Photo by Staci Harwood

Gala raises funds for the Marion Pritchett School for Pregnant and Parenting Teens.

By John Stennett, Major

The Salvation Army in Boise, Idaho, celebrated its 125th anniversary at the 22nd annual Harvest Gala Sept. 13 at the Boise State University Stueckle Center. The event raised nearly $50,000 for the Marian Pritchett School for Pregnant and Parenting teens located at the Booth Memorial Campus.

After opening performances by the Nampa Corps youth choir and percussion group, Alicia Cooper, graduate of the Marian Pritchett School, spoke. While at the school, Cooper gave birth to a daughter with a serious medical condition. She expressed appreciation to The Salvation Army and her teachers, who supported her through the first months of motherhood. Cooper currently works as a family care specialist with Intervention Specialists.

“I was so inspired by the poise and wisdom of our guest speaker,” said Major Candy Stennett. “Having graduated just seven years ago, she is an outstanding example of a young mother who is both self-sufficient and already making phenomenal contributions in the lives of countless families through her vocation as an intervention specialist.”

Marlene Puckett, advisory board member, received an award for 20 years of service on the board. Representatives from Project Share, a utilities assistance program, were honored for 30 years of partnership with The Salvation Army.

The Harvest Gala took place on the same date that the work of The Salvation Army began in Boise in 1887, when two single female officers—Captain Lizzie Kiefert and Lt. Ella Hollcraft—took a train from Salt Lake City to the newly opened Boise City train depot. Although only 3,500 people lived in Boise City at that time, the work of The Salvation Army grew quickly to the point where crowds of over 200 people were participating in open-air meetings.

Seattle Storm’s Katie Smith inspires kids at The Salvation Army.

Katie Smith, Olympic gold medalist and professional basketball player with the Seattle Storm, visited The Salvation Army Seattle White Center Corps this summer to speak to more than 40 youth from the summer day camp program, and sign autographs.

Smith played on the gold-medal winning USA women’s basketball team at the Beijing Olympics four years ago, and is the all-time leading scorer in women’s professional basketball with a total (to date) of 7,580 points scored.

Smith encouraged the kids to pursue many interests, not just what they’re good at, recalling her own 4H participation and the fact that she was her high school’s valedictorian.

“School and learning open up all the doors,” she said. “Never stop learning.”

When the kids asked how hard basketball practice is, Smith replied, “It’s hard. It’s intense. You want to win and you’re trying to figure it out. That’s what practice is.”

Sean Connors, White Center sports director, organized the visit. Captains Raymond and Jennifer Erickson-King are the White Center corps officers.

With information from the West Seattle Herald 

Deputy Craig Chamberlin, Spokane County Sheriff’s Dept. and Salvation Army advisory board member, and a local Spokane boy check out a new backpack.
Photo by Heather Byrd

The Salvation Army in Spokane, Wash., provided 3,748 backpacks to local children—kindergarten through high school—in its annual Backpacks for Kids campaign.

Families began lining up outside The Salvation Army at 5 a.m. on distribution day, and by 8 a.m., when doors opened, the line wrapped around the city block.

“I think most of these kids would have gone to school with no school supplies or very minimal,” said Captain Kyle Smith, Spokane corps officer with his wife, Major Lisa Smith. “Kids are proud to show me backpacks. If you have a nice backpack, you’re going to fit in.”

Local media included coverage by three television stations and a front-page newspaper article. A radio station did a “Burst the Bus” event, with personnel living in The Salvation Army’s bus for a week while they solicited donations.

The children were excited, and parents were grateful. Jenny Berg brought three of her six kids to the giveaway; it was their first time at the event. “Only my husband is working right now, so this really helps,” she said.

Heather Byrd, Spokane Salvation Army spokeswoman, said, “People assume those who come in here are homeless, but often it’s people who are just trying to get by.”

The distribution proceeded smoothly throughout the day thanks to the efforts of volunteers and staff.

“We couldn’t have done this without Cenex Zip Trip, from the business side,” Byrd said. The company raised more than $25,000 for the program by offering free coffee or soda to customers who made donations.

 Information courtesy

The Spokesman-Review