Meet Mr. Harry - Salvation Army Food Pantry Volunteer

With our continuing focus on hunger and The Salvation Army programs that help fight hunger, food pantries, serving meals, and passing out snack bags, you can’t help but wonder who the people are behind our programs.



Meet Mr. Harry.











Mr. Harry is a faithful food pantry volunteer at The Salvation Army in McKinney.

For the past five years, every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 – noon, Mr. Harry volunteers in the pantry. He organizes and restocks shelves, and bags groceries to pass out to people in need. He says he is passing out grocery bags to 10-15 families per day and the family size can vary from a single adult to a family with eight children.

Working with groceries is not new to Mr. Harry. He has worked at and managed several grocery stores for more than fifty years. After retiring he felt God calling him to volunteer, so he went to The Salvation Army in McKinney to find out how he could help.

“A few weeks after expressing the interest in volunteering, the Corps’ officers called to tell me they could use my help in the food pantry,” Mr. Harry said.

Having experience working in a grocery store was a plus, so he knew the volunteer job would not be too difficult. But, in his new volunteer role at The Salvation Army he was eager to do something more than just hand out food.

“The volunteer position allows me to meet new people and hand out bags of food but, more importantly, to offer to pray with the people that come in,” Mr. Harry said.

“Sometimes I see single moms crying because they are so happy to receive food that will feed her and her children.”

On Mr. Harry’s desk is a printed copy of the scripture verse Isaiah 53 from the Bible. Harry accepted the Lord into his life in his mid-forties, and he says it is never too late for someone to know Christ.


Sadly, this will be Mr. Harry’s last week volunteering with The Salvation Army in McKinney. He will be relocating to Las Vegas, NV to be closer to his family. He says that when he gets settled into his new routine, he may look for opportunities to volunteer at The Salvation Army there.

He credits God’s timing in all of this as he has found a volunteer replacement, Mr. Gary.

Mr. Gary is eager to start volunteering and is most excited about meeting new people.

"People are important,” Mr. Gary says.


“It does not cost anything to be nice to people.”

Lewisville Leader News: New program pulls the community together

During the past few weeks at The Salvation Army DFW, we have been talking about hunger in the community.

Unfortunately, hunger has become more prevalent in our community during these difficult economic times. The Salvation Army in Lewisville is being proactive on this issue, by going into their community to pass out "snack bags".

Through this program, The Salvation Army Lewisville is not only feeding more people, but they are building relationships with the people in need.

Read what the Lewisville Leader is saying about The Salvation Army Lewisville's new program: Star Local News Lewisville Leader News New program pulls the community together

Good job, staff and volunteers at The Salvation Army in Lewisville! This new program is a further reminder that The Salvation Army is doing tough work, for the cause of transforming lives.

Earthquake in Haiti Leaves Major Devastation

Haiti government officials estimate 500,000 people could be dead from Tuesday's 7.0 earthquake.

Since 1950, The Salvation Army has been working in Haiti and currently has 45 primary schools that serve more than 10,000 children daily, two clinics and a hospital, two children's home, feeding programs, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment projects.

The Salvation Army has responded immediately to the earthquake in
Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.

Help Haitian quake survivors by donating to The Salvation Army.

www.salvationarmyusa.org

Call:
1-800-SAL-ARMY

By mail:
The Salvation Army
Haiti Earthquake Relief
PO Box 36006
Dallas, TX 75235

It's a New Year... Focus on Food!

While some people are focused on eating healthy, cutting back on calories, and trying to lose a few pounds this New Year, other people are wondering where their next meal will come from.

The Salvation Army DFW wants to make sure that no one in the Metroplex will go hungry. With the start of the New Year, let’s focus on food and help feed families in need!

Here are some ideas how you can help feed the hungry….

1. SHOP - Next time you are at your local grocery store, pick up a few additional canned food items and drop them off at your nearest Salvation Army center.

2. DONATE – Make an online donation. Did you know you can make an online donation in honor of someone?

3. FOOD DRIVE – Looking for an exciting project? Hold a food drive for your company, your Sunday school class, or maybe for your child’s school. Make it into a friendly competition to see who can raise the most food.

4. VOLUNTEER – Volunteer to feed the homeless at a Salvation Army shelter. Nothing is more gratifying than helping someone in need.

Feed the hungry. Change a life.

Bell Ringers Clown Around....

Linda and Vic Morin, from Plano, recently volunteered as bell ringers outside Fry's Electronics off of Highway 75 and Plano Parkway.

The couple decided to get creative and dress up as clowns. This put shoppers in a good and giving mood!

Congratulations, Linda & Vic! You've been caught Doing the Most Good !

Celebrity Angel Tree Adoption!

’Tis the season! As part of holiday tradition and a commitment to the Dallas community, Josh Howard, forward for the Dallas Mavericks, adopts 100 angels from The Salvation Army Cedar Crest Angel Tree. Howard will provide Christmas gifts to all the adopted angels.


Howard grew up in a neighborhood similar to Cedar Crest where he was active at his local Salvation Army community center.

Howard and the Dallas Mavericks have given back to The Salvation Army Cedar Crest Community Center by renovating the center’s basketball gym.

What is your favorite Thanksgiving Dish?

The Salvation Army is getting ready for Thanksgiving Day! This year, we will feed more than 2,000 people in the DFW Metroplex. The meals will include turkey, dressing, green beans, mashed potatoes, yams, fresh rolls, and pumpkin pie. Sounds delicious!

We want to hear from our readers... What is your favorite holiday dish?

Please leave a “comment” at the end of the blog post.

For example: My favorite Thanksgiving dish is sweet potato crunch.

We can’t wait to read all the responses!

And by the way, don’t forget about The Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving Fund Drive. You can help provide a Thanksgiving Meal or Food Box to a needy family.

Former Dallas Cowboys' Celebrate Salvation Army Comets' Homecoming

A few blog posts ago, we highlighted The Salvation Army Cedar Crest’s football and cheerleading program.

This past weekend, the program celebrated homecoming. In honor of the event, former Dallas Cowboys’ players Charles Haley (1992 -1996); Kelvin Edwards (1987-1988); Erik G. Williams (1991-2000); Russell Maryland (1991- 1995); and Dixon Edwards (1991-1995) signed autographs and took pictures with the children.

Haley, the only man in the world with five Super Bowl rings, says the sports program teaches children how to work as a team and develop leadership skills.

“Without sports, children miss out on what teamwork and friendship really means,” Haley said.

Nordstrom Rack Giving Back!

A group of employees from the Nordstrom Rack in Plano spent Monday, October 19th at The Salvation Army in Plano, creating Angel Tree kits. This activity is part of their United Way community service contribution. Each year, Nordstrom stores across the nation spend one day giving back to their local community by volunteering.

The Plano Nordstrom Rack assembled 2,500 Angel Tree kits, including a bag to hold the gifts and an Angel Tree information sheet.

Nordstrom Rack Store Manager, Casey Aur, says she has personally participated in the Angel Tree program each year by adopting an angel, but she never knew what all is needed to make it successful. She found the volunteer opportunity inspiring.
“Nordstrom is known for exceptional customer service and this starts by having your employees work together as a team. That is what makes our store successful,” Aur said.

“It’s exciting that today, that a group of our staff can come together as a team and give back to The Salvation Army. It’s amazing how much volunteer work we will do today that will benefit Angel Tree.”

This year, The Salvation Army will assemble an estimate 60,000 angel tree kits. Salvation Army Angel Trees will be available, on November 13, in 10 malls: Collin Creek, Golden Triangle, Irving, NorthPark, Valley View, Hulen, Northeast, Ridgmar, Grapevine, and including Galleria this year!

Thank you Nordstrom Rack for giving back!

Comets Football at The Salvation Army Cedar Crest

The Salvation Army Cedar Crest, located in Southeast Dallas, helps children score big in many ways. The center provides a well known football and cheerleading program. Not only is the program successful in teaching children skills on the field, but it also is great at teaching children life skills.

For many children growing up in this neighborhood, a life exposed to drugs and gang (street) violence is all too common. Some of the children do not come from a stable background. By offering football and cheerleading practice three times a week, and football games on Saturdays, children and their parent’s can easily become involved in a more positive experience. On any given Saturday, more than two hundred people come to the community center to participate or watch the football games during football season.


Sergeant Rodney Hinkle, officer at The Salvation Army Cedar Crest, says the program is a win for the parents and the children. The coaches mentor the children and keep in communication with the parents. Over the past few years, the sports program has developed into a successful community tradition. “Parents in this area know that we offer the best alternative activity that will keep their children safe and teach them skills they can use on and off the field.”

Meet seven-year-old Jederek, who plays on The Salvation Army’s Comets football team.

Jederek, who aspires to play like Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber, knows that grades matter. The program's rule is, no pass no play. “We check their grades,” assistant coach for the Comets said. “If a child is not passing his classes, then we are quick to help him with his grades." Jederek says he understands the importance of getting good grades. “I am getting good grades and it makes me happy to play."

Next, meet Salvation Army’s Comets cheerleader, Tyranisha.

Tyranisha’s mother, Tiffany, is a single mother living in the Cedar Crest neighborhood. She says her daughter looks forward to the weekly practices and cheering for the Comets. “The program teaches my daughter about team work which is an important skill, plus she has fun,” Tiffany said. Tiffany’s oldest daughter was once a Comets cheerleader, too. “My girls love cheerleading here. This program is definitely known in the community,” she said.

Because of the success of this program at The Salvation Army Cedar Crest Community Center, the lessons Jederek, Tyranisha, and other children are learning will help them and hopefully change their community. The Salvation Army is teaching the young, aspiring football players and cheerleaders how to be disciplined and how to work with other people. “These skills will help the players throughout their lives,” Hinkle said.