Helping the Hurting

When William Booth embarked on his ministerial career in 1852, his crusade was to win the lost multitudes of London to Christianity. His "out-of-the-box" thinking sent him out among the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the destitute where they lived: on the streets of London. These were the beginnings of The Salvation Army that today boasts more than 10,000 Salvation Army sites in the United States and many more around the world.

Raymond Kindle is a resident and volunteer at the Salvation Army facility in Shreveport.

Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. In fact, the Salvation Army continues to serve those that Booth targeted: thieves, prostitutes, gamblers, and drunkards. These were among his first converts to Christianity. And as it was in the 19th century, many of those brought into the flock today go to work saving others that are like themselves.

The local Salvation Army center in Northwest Louisiana, also known as a Core Community Center, provides a multifaceted center of housing and services. Each week a variety of people meet for worship and fellowship.

These participants include residents of the Shelter of Hope, an emergency and transitional facility on the grounds that provides character-building activities and case management to the homeless in the community. Raymond Kindle, a recent resident of the Shelter of Hope and a volunteer at the Salvation Army, says he is thankful for a place out of the weather, fellowship with people and a chance to attend church. Mr. Kindle completes the cycle that Booth envisioned: converts expand the message and will add to the flock.

Major Stephen Long shows off the new Disaster Canteen Unit.

As is the case across the country, the Salvation Army locally is also a first responder when disasters occur. This requires an expanded role in emergency relief, emergency shelter, and other social services provided in the disaster related area and beyond.

It also requires innovative thinking about how to deliver basic needs. Again, an out-of-the-box approach answered a need following the 2005 hurricanes when a $120,000 Disaster Canteen Unit was purchased with donations to feed victims and relief workers. "The old one that was falling apart and we kept band aiding it," said Major Stephen Long, the commanding officer of the local Salvation Army Center. Its six gas burners, oven, deep fryer, two microwaves, two refrigerators and generator allows them to serve up to 2,000 meals a day.

The Salvation Army is a vital part of the Northwest Louisiana continuum of care, HOPE for the Homeless, and provides the needed and innovative programs that fill gaps in the local service delivery. In fact they are merely fulfilling their mission: meeting human needs wherever and whatever they may be.