From crumpets to crowns...a day in the life of Lynnea

What am amazing day I had on Thursday! I started off the morning by speaking to a group of 25 women who had gathered with the sole purpose of learning more about The Salvation Army. They drank tea and ate crumpets while I shared information and my own personal stories with them, but what I really enjoyed was listening to their own stories of how The Salvation Army has helped them. Whether is was getting free coffee and doughnuts during World War II from a Salvation Army canteen, or giving birth to a child in a Salvation Army hospital, it seemed like they all had a story to share. I feel as though I learned more from them than they learned from me, but they assured me that that's not true.

That evening, I went to the Winter Carnival in St. Paul to volunteer for the 2009 Coronation, as a way to meet more people in St. Paul and to share with them about what The Salvation Army is also doing in the community. I had never been to a coronation before, and the world of crowns and princesses is completely new to me. I spent the evening meeting royalty and helping with the production of the event, and I was amazed at the kind hearts of every person who spoke at the coronation. How inspiring to see these St. Paul leaders speaking of the importance of community and working towards improving the lives of those around us.

As I watched the young women receive their crowns, I thought about how my day had shown me the deep capacity of people of all ages to serve, to love, and to help others. From my morning of tea and crumpets with women who have decades of history with The Salvation Army, to my evening with a young generation promising to work to improve the community, back to my desk at The Salvation Army where I read e-mails and newsletters about all of the wonderful work The Salvation Army is doing throughout the world, my hope for the future is strengthened more than ever.

Thank You

It has been such a pleasure to spend some time these last couple of weeks talking with those who gave to help us meet our Christmas goal. I was holding my breath throughout the Christmas campaign, hoping and praying that the struggling economy would not translate to us struggling to have the funding to provide people the help and relief they need. Fortunately, the community came through in a big way, and now that all the craziness of the holidays has died down, I've had the privilege of calling many of those who helped us meet that goal and thanking them for their gifts.

One specific supporter I spoke with told me that she had never given to The Salvation Army, and she was in a very difficult financial situation herself. She cut corners and scraped together $50.00 to donate to a charity during Christmas. After researching multiple non-profits, she decided to give her donation to The Salvation Army, telling me she decided on us because "I know you will stretch this gift to reach out to even more people in need, and that's what our community needs right now." Of course, I was touched by her generosity to give even when she was "hard-up" herself, but I was also pleased that our organization stood up so well to her research. I have always believed that it is incredibly important to be transparent to our donors, our volunteers, and the public in general, and I'm glad that we are accountable to our supporters to use their gifts in honorable and cost-effective ways.

A touching letter from a Salvation Army supporter...

When my grandfather was dying in the '40s, my grandma had three sons serving our country at the same time overseas. She searched all over for ways to get them home to say goodbye to their dad, but no one could help, they couldn’t afford to get home on their own, and they couldn’t even think about taking out a loan. Over 60 years later, my mom vividly remembers and recounts how The Salvation Army came to the rescue, and got all three brothers home to be with my grandma and grandpa. One brother was even as far away as Greenland, and The Salvation Army paid for him to come home and to return! The whole family was able to be together to say goodbye to their father (my grandfather), and it brought so much peace. I have never told that story. I never needed to because every time somebody mentions The Salvation Army my mom steps up to the plate and tells it even better. After she is gone, I will tell it for her, I promise. Go “Army.”

The Word is Out!

We officially made (and surpassed) our 2008 Christmas Campaign goal, and brought in 9 million dollars this Christmas season! I am amazed and inspired by the generosity of the community who gave to help others even though many of them were most likely in need themselves. I've talked to so many donors this season who have told me, "I realized that if I'm hurting financially, others are probably hurting even more, so I gave what I could, hoping it would make a little difference." Well, with so many people giving "what they could," a very big difference will be made in many people's lives. Please read this press release or this Star Tribune Article for details on how the goal was reached.