New Year's Resolutions

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to volunteer for "Stuff the Bus," a Salvation Army event that allowed people to donate toys right outside of Wal-Marts throughout the Twin Cities by putting them on a big bus parked outside of the store. The goal was clear: to stuff the bus full of toys to give deserving children a great Christmas. I was at the Wal-Mart in Apple Valley, and was overwhelmed by the generosity of those donating. Some gave bags of toys, some gave just one toy, but all were digging deep during a difficult economical time to help others.

One donor in particular still sticks in my mind: A little boy and his mom approached the big bus, and as they came closer, I could see that his mom was crying. The little boy held a bag full of toys and as he offered it to be placed on the bus, we (the staff on the bus) asked her what was wrong. She told us that her son had been saving his allowance for months to throw a pizza party for his friends. It took him a long time, but he had finally saved $60. When they came to Wal-Mart that day, he saw the bus and his mom had explained to him that there were lots of children who wouldn't get any presents that Christmas, and that people were buying toys and putting them on the bus to help out. He told his mom that he wanted to help, and instead of buying one toy to give away, he spent his entire $60 on toys, and donated them all. His mom was so overcome with emotion, seeing her son spend every penny he had on children he didn't even know, that she couldn't stop crying. The rest of us were holding back our own tears as he put the toys on the bus and walked away, seeking no recognition or thanks for his self-sacrifice.

Last week during Christmas I kept thinking about this little boy, and how simple his touching example was: He saw a need, asked himself what he could do to help, and gave of himself in a sacrificial way. As I gave and received presents from friends and family, I asked myself how sacrificial I’ve been lately. Do I give, volunteer, serve others, etc. only when it’s convenient or would I follow this child’s example and allow myself to be inconvenienced in a significant way to help others?

As we go into the New Year, this is something I will be thinking about and working on in my own life. I guess you could even call it a resolution! And I encourage you to think about how you and your family can also strive to be more like this little boy throughout 2009 and in the many years to come.

Update!

As you read in my last post, we challenged the community to a half a million dollar possibility by matching a $250,000 pledge on December 23rd. I am thrilled to report that the community surpassed that goal and responded with a Million Dollar day!

Tuesday's online donations, checks, pledges and a Fox 9 phone bank topped out the scale at $296,535 - more than enough to receive the matching gift.

Then came the gift to make Tuesday Dec 23 a record breaker - a $500,000 contribution from Cargill.

This brings Tuesday's total to $1,046,535. This amazing number doesn't even include the money pouring into red kettles all day long. That number will likely not be calculated until the end of the day today which is the final day to donate to the kettles this season.

With this record breaking day The Salvation Army is closing in on the $8.5 million Christmas Campaign goal with a total of $6.1 million.

"We need to keep this momentum alive," says Major Darryl Leedom, Salvation Army Twin Cities Commander. "As we prepare to serve in 2009 we fully expect continued increases in need. It is imperative we have the means to extend compassionate care to hurting families."

Donations may be made at red kettles through Wednesday, online at www.thesalarmy.org, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or mailing a check to 2445 Prior AVE N, Roseville MN 55313.

Have I got a deal for you...

An anonymous donor has pledged to match up to a quarter of a million dollars for any gift made, designated, or postmarked December 23rd for this year's Christmas campaign. What does this mean for you? If you put a quarter in a red kettle on December 23rd, it automatically becomes 50 cents. If you write a check for $100 and write "match" in the memo line, it automatically becomes $200. $1000 becomes $2000, $10,000 becomes $20,000...you get the point.

During such tough economic times, what an incredible opportunity to let us literally double the amount of money that you are able to give this year!

What can you do?

1. Spread the word! Tell everyone you know about this great opportunity!

2. Adopt a Kettle: Offer to do your own match up to a certain dollar amount for a specific kettle location. Then every cent put in that kettle will actually be tripled! (Matched once by you and once by our anonymous donor.) Let me know if you're interested in this lynnea.erickson@usc.salvationarmy.org

3. Donate money in a red kettle, online, by calling 800-SAL-ARMY, or by mailing a check to 2445 Prior Ave. N., Roseville, MN 55113. Write "match" in the memo line of a check for your donation to be matched. (All donations made on 12/23 will automatically be matched)

Grand Meander

In an effort to get to know the St. Paul community better, I spent some time at the Grand Meander in St. Paul on Saturday. I met some great people at the various events--pancake breakfast, trolley rides, etc.--and was able to learn about what others are doing in the area to help those in need. It was great to be able to share information about my role at The Salvation Army and all of the different programs we do during the Christmas season to try to provide some relief to others, while also hearing about what else is happening in St. Paul and throughout the twin cities in other organizations.

I also had my very first bell-ringing experience, and it was cold. We had red kettles all the way up and down Grand Avenue for this event, and I took my bell-ringing post on the corner of Snelling and Grand from 3-5pm. As the sun started to set a little after 4:00, it got colder and windier, and my shivers were strong enough to make the bell ring in my hand without any help from me! I think that I elicited more sympathy than dollars and coins from the passers-by, but all I could think of, while my eyes watered in the wind and then froze to my cheeks, was of all of the people who were out in the cold with nowhere to go. I was counting the minutes until I could get into my warm car and go home to my warm apartment, but not everyone is that fortunate. I am so thankful for The Harbor Light and other shelters in the Twin Cities, because this was definitely a reality check for me to get a very small glimpse in to what it is like for those with no home to stay safe and warm in during these bitterly cold winter months.

Adopt-a-Family

Hundreds of families will have a much merrier Christmas this year because they have been "adopted" by generous families throughout the Twin Cities who have committed to providing them with kindness, warmth, groceries, and gifts to open Christmas morning. Yesterday at 5:00a.m. we kicked off our "Adopt-a-Family Radiothon" and set out to match almost 700 needy families of all sizes--from families of two to families of 12--with those willing to bless others in this unique way. I was fortunate enough to volunteer for this event yesterday, and was amazed to watch the number of families left to be adopted shrink dramatically throughout the day and into the evening as people called in to sign up to adopt. One woman called in near the end of the day and asked how many families hadn't been adopted yet in Anoka county; when we told her there were five left, she said, "I'll take them all," and adopted all five families! Others who called in explained that their entire extended families had decided to forego buying presents for one another this year, and each one of them adopted a family instead.

These acts of generosity amaze and inspire me, but I was equally impressed by how many volunteers came out to help make this daunting endeavor a success. Entire companies came in together to answer phones, mail out "wish lists" to adopters, and happily perform whatever tasks were assigned to them. Other volunteers used their vacation time at their jobs to take the day off and help us out. All of their sacrifices were worthwhile, because although the Adopt-a-Family Radiothon was scheduled to go through the rest of day, by 10:00 this morning every single family had been adopted. Now, in hundreds of households throughout the Twin Cities, there will be presents under the tree where possibly for years before children had gone without, and there will be food on the table that was previously bare. Thank you for making this possible.

Happy Thanksgiving

This year has clearly been difficult for a lot of people, and I'm just as guilty as the next person of grumbling every once in a while about the economy, the weather, or just about having a bad day. But for me, Thanksgiving is always the loudest wake-up call there is to remind me that even in tough times, there is so much to be thankful for. Sounds cliché, I know, but it's true! This year more than ever, I've been touched by the amount of people who give of their time, money, and other resources, to try to improve the lives of others. I've been blessed to have the opportunity to take people on tours of the different Twin Cities Salvation Army facilities, and I love watching the progression of tour guests as they are inspired to get involved in the work The Salvation Army is committed to doing.

Just in the last week I've talked to several families who have chosen to spend their Thanksgiving serving food to the hundreds of homeless people who don't have families to spend the holiday with, a school who held a Mitten Drive and collected over 150 pairs of mittens to keep people warm this winter, and a group of 13 Girl Scouts who collected bags and bags of food to donate to the food shelf at St. Paul Citadel Worship and Community Center. All of these people came to a tour, saw first-hand how much need exists in our community, saw what The Salvation Army is doing to help, and chose to be a part of that. Instead of getting discouraged by the dramatic increase in need we've seen this season, these people have chosen to do something about it, and they are my inspiration and encouragement this Thanksgiving.

I met a woman at a Chamber of Commerce event last week who, once she heard that I work for The Salvation Army, told me point-blank, "The Salvation Army saved my life." She told me how she "practically lived" at the Salvation Army facility on West 7th St. (St. Paul Citadel Worship and Community Center) when she was growing up. "I had a very dysfunctional home life, and The Salvation Army was absolutely a safe haven for me and my sisters." She even spent her summers at Silver Lake Salvation Army Camp, where I worked for several summers of my own. Of course this revelation caused us to simultaneously break out into singing all of our favorite Salvation Army camp songs! She was so thrilled to hear that we still offer programs to give kids a chance to escape "the tragedies of their own lives," and I assured her that The Salvation Army definitely recognizes the importance of those programs, and there is no plan to stop offering them! This woman is now a successful owner of her own company, and she attributes much of her success to finding some source of stability in life, through the services The Salvation Army provided.

Meeting her was an extraordinary experience for me, because it was like flash-forwarding in time a few decades to see where all of those kids I met working at camp all those summers--whose stories broke my heart--will hopefully end up some day. I always dreaded the last day of a camp week because it meant sending the kids off to the same (sometimes toxic) environment that they came from, hoping that they'd gained some insight into their own worth as a child of God, as a person deserving respect and love, and with knowledge of the nearest Salvation Army facility to their home where they can find help and comfort. To see the long-term effects of simply offering a child a "safe haven," personified in this woman before me was the greatest blessing to me, and I hope it brightens your day as well.

Freeze!

What's more difficult to ignore while walking down the street than a person frozen in place, directly in your path? How about 100 frozen people? That's exactly what we did today as a part of The Salvation Army's "Ignore No More" campaign. 100 students from North Central University, along with many Salvation Army employees froze in place at the exact same time for exactly five minutes in downtown Minneapolis at 12:40pm. Every frozen person wore an Ignore No More sticker someplace on his or her body, which was the only clue about what was happening to confused passers-by.

Admittedly, I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to fully "commit," and actually remain still for five minutes without giving into my urges to step out of the way of all of the pedestrians barreling towards me. Surprisingly, it was not only easier than I thought, but it was also unbelievably fun. I decided to freeze in place while taking my umbrella out of its casing so that it would be clear that I was frozen in the middle of a task and not just standing still. The people walking past did double and triple takes, trying to figure out why I wasn't moving, and then looked around noticing the many, many others who were also frozen. I even heard more than one person say, "This is surreal..." Every person trying to walk down the sidewalk was forced to maneuver, swerve, and zig-zag around us, just to make it down the block!

The goal was to bring attention to Ignore No More by doing something impossible to ignore, and I definitely believe that that goal was achieved. When we broke out of our freeze after five minutes, we handed out stickers reading "Ignorenomore.org" and told them, "Curious? Check out the website." Are you curious about today's Freeze? Check out these pictures and the video below to see it yourself!

Coats for Kids

Last week I was able to participate in this year's Coats for Kids drive. This annual event distributes new or gently used coats, hats, mittens, and scarves to needy children throughout the Twin Cities. This was my first time being involved with this, and as soon as I arrived early in the morning to help hand out coats at St. Paul Citadel Worship and Service Center (one of several Salvation Army sites distributing coats that day), I was overhwelmed by the long line of parents patiently waiting for the "coat boutique" to open up. I made sure that they knew that it wouldn't be open for another couple of hours, and they assured me that they knew. "I just can't risk not getting a coat for my kids," the first woman in line told me. "Times are hard. Harder than they've ever been," she said, "I'm ashamed that I can't provide coats for my kids on my own to keep them warm during the winter. This way, at least they won't freeze, even if my pride is hurt a little."

I watched all day as moms and dads happily found coats for their kids, but unfortunately, the need is overwhelming, and the selection couldn't accommodate everyone. I helped one woman who had stopped by to find coats for her five kids over her lunch hour. We looked through all of the racks trying to find the right sizes, but in the end she walked away with only two coats. She told me, "I only want to take a coat if I'm absolutely sure that it will fit one of my children. I don't want to take a coat away from someone else who might need it." I was struck by her consideration of others, even when faced with her own needs.

I had the pleasure of spending the day volunteering with a group of employees from 3M. One 3M employee had coordinated with our Volunteer Services department to cover the entire day of volunteer shifts for Coats for Kids. What an amazing thing to do as a business--to give of your time together to help others. This group worked tirelessly with smiles on their faces. Over the lunch hour, we were able to talk about The Salvation Army, and I was able to answer questions, talk about various programs, and invite them to attend a Beyond the Red Kettle tour. This was such a kind, gracious group of people, and they kept saying over and over, "If only people knew. If only people knew." I assured them that that's the purpose of my job--to make sure that people do know about the extreme needs facing our community and what The Salvation Army is doing to try to relieve it. I told them that it's people like them that make my job really worthwhile; when I meet a group of people who become aware of the work to be done and jump on board to partner with us in that work, it is all the encouragement I need to keep spreading the word to the best of my ability.

A Story from the Past

A long note recently came in with a Salvation Army supporter's donation, and it touched me so deeply, I asked him if I could share it:

Dear Salvation Army,

In 1943 my dad was discharged from the United States Navy. He had four children (including me) and was unemployed. We lived with my mom's sisters and grandfather in Winona, MN. I was about 3 years old then. He went to other organizations for help--financial assistance, food and clothing, whatever help he could find. All he received was a voucher for 2 gallons of milk with a blanket. Then he went to The Salvation Army and received food vouchers (enough to eat on for a week), $5 cash, clothing for us kids and a nice used new suit with a list of possible employers that might hire him.

He told me this story with great respect for The Salvation Army, and I never forgot it. That is why my contributions to The Salvation Army are consistent each time you send me a reminder in the mail.

I live on social-security and find myself maxed-out at the end of the month. But if I could save my contributions for myself, what would I do with them? No amount of money can buy me health, peace of mind, or the feeling that in some small way I can be a part of sharing my life with others who have less than me.

~John M.

What a beautiful cycle this is to see, those who already have so little giving to help those who have even less, because those before them were helped in the same way.

Right Place at the Right Time

I received an amazing phone call from a Salvation Army supporter today. This couple consistently sends us encouraging notes along with their donations every time they donate, and in early September I wrote them a card to thank them for all of the encouragement they have given us and invited them to tour a facility. She called me this morning and we were able to talk for about 45 minutes. She told me that yesterday she and her husband were at Northwestern Bookstore and there was a woman in front of them in line who was flustered because she was running late and was going to miss her bus. They ended up giving this woman a ride, and when they got in the car she told them that she was on her way to The Salvation Army Harbor Light Shelter in Minneapolis, where she lives. On the car ride, this woman told them all about how both of her parents were drug-addicted and died young, how she was homeless and how The Salvation Army saved her life. She told them that there is no way that she could have gotten her life back on track without the help of The Salvation Army. This couple was overwhelmed by the young woman's testimony and how dedicated she is to the Lord now. The donor said that she just had to call me and be a witness as to how we are working in people's lives. She told me that they pray for us everyday, and that they can't imagine what this world would be like without us. What a blessing!

A New Viewpoint

Monday I had the opportunity to speak about The Salvation Army to a group of 30 teenagers at a transitional living program, along with about 15 of their teachers. Even though I spoke for a whole 45 minutes, the students miraculously stayed focused the whole time! They asked so many great questions and even guessed correctly that The Salvation Army was started "back in the 1800s" (1865 to be exact).

The next day, the students and teachers joined me at our Salvation Army facility on West 7th in St. Paul, St. Paul Citadel Worship and Community center, for a tour to see first-hand what I had talked about in their classroom. We saw kids playing soccer in the gym, seniors playing card games in the cafeteria, people taking bread off of the free bread cart in the entry-way, and so much more.

While we were standing in the gym, listening to the Child Development Center Director talk about the kids who were at that time running wildly around the gym, one of the teenagers on the tour leaned over to me and whispered sarcastically, "Hey, those homeless people look a lot like kids to me." My confused look prompted her to continue: "I thought we came here to see homeless people, not some day care." This gave me a great opportunity to talk to her about why giving these kids a place to come kick a soccer ball around a gym can be life-changing to both the kids and their families. Without a safe place for their children to go, many parents can't keep their jobs or even try to get a job in the first place. Without the after-school program and the emphasis on literacy in the Child Development center, many of these kids might fail out of school, and that might take away the chance for them to provide for their own families some day. Without a place to go during the day or after school, who knows what danger they might be in or the wrong crowds they could fall into.

I gently told the girl, "If you want to see poverty, come back here any day of the week around 7:00am and you'll see 200-300 people coming here to get breakfast, which might be the only meal they eat all day. But if these kids aren't given an equal chance to be helped, in 10 years they might be the ones coming through the line for breakfast. Do you understand why it's all important?"

Her eyes filled with tears, and all she could say was, "I had no idea."

I saw myself in this girl because I was about her age when I had the same eye-opening experience (incidentally, mine also occurred while witnessing a Salvation Army youth program for the first time), and realized that the need is so much greater than I had ever recognized. What a privilege it is to not only expand people's ideas of who needs help in the world and here in the Twin Cities, but to also spread hope that The Salvation Army is working hard to eradicate that need from all angles.