Beyond the Red Kettle

We had a great Beyond the Red Kettle tour this afternoon at our Booth Brown House facility in St. Paul. About 20 donors, volunteers, and staff members gathered for a free lunch followed by a walking tour of this building, which houses young men and women who would be otherwise homeless. We heard incredible stories from the Booth Brown House staff about once-struggling young adults who are now on their feet, with college degrees and complete lives of their own. I love executing these tours because I get to witness the eye-opening experience our tour guests have as they walk through the building and hear about the programs. Every single time we have had a tour here, at least one tour guest pulls me aside to whisper, "I had no idea that The Salvation Army does this kind of thing." I always tell them that that's exactly why we do these tours in the first place! We want to show people what happens beyond that red kettle that you see at Christmas time, and take a deeper look into our programs.

I am thankful that The Salvation Army does have a facility like this to help youth and young adults from sleeping on the streets or "couch-hopping" because it is a need that many are unaware of. The Wilder Foundation's recent research on homelessness reveals that "on a typical night in Minnesota, there are an estimated 600 youth under age 18, and even more young adults who are homeless and on their own. These are among the least visible and most vulnerable homeless people. Most have experienced serious upheaval in their lives; about half have been physically abused." Seeing Booth Brown House first-hand is always a reminder that this need exists and it is incredible to hear about so many who have gone from homeless to complete self-sufficiency within a matter of months.

Join us on our next tour! All are welcome, and it's easy to sign up online. Check out The Salvation Army's website, and click on "Take a Tour."