The Salvation Army; serving without discrimination

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

There is just this feel good feeling that comes along around the holiday season that cannot be denied. The lights, the smells, the smiling faces, yes, even the holiday music that begins to drive you crazy about one week of it playing all over the radio and in stores.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for all families. According to Raising the Village.ca, Toronto has the highest rate of children living in low-income families, with 29% of these children under the age of twelve. There are great disparities seen, and there are about 58 neighbourhoods in Toronto that have a majority of children. What does this mean? This means that during the holidays, if you celebrate the Christmas season, there are children who will not only wake up to no presents under the tree, they also will wake up to no food on their table.

In 1865, way before the hardships of our time, a man named William Booth abandoned the conventional concept of church and began to service and assist the poor, the homeless, the hungry, without discrimination. By 1867, the organization we know as The Salvation Army had become a ministry offering basic schooling, reading rooms, penny banks, soup kitchens and relief to anyone who needed it. In 1882, The Salvation Army began its work in Canada, and has grown to become one of the largest non-governmental direct providers of social services in the country, to over 400 communities across Canada, and more than 130 countries around the world.

Let us fast-forward to Friday, November 29^th, 2019, a ministry still very motivated by love for God and the needs of humanity, has found a way to remain relevant in a now fast-paced world. The Salvation Army did it again with Christmas in the Square, hosted by Toronto’s favourite crooner, the one and only Juno Award winning singer Andrew Grange, better known to most of us as Dru. Dru was joined by a host of talented entertainers including Jade Hip Hop Academy, the Ontario Central East Divisional Youth Choir, and students from the Start School Performing Arts and Music Academy. Together, along with The Salvation Army Family the community braved the frigid temperatures, and were paid a surprise visit by our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Everything kicked off around 5:30 pm with the launch of a powerful initiative, The Salvation Army Toy Mountain. Due to their longstanding partnership with CTV, Ken Shaw and Michell Dubé were there, hanging out in the square, and finally interviewing Justin Trudeau live about the importance of Toy Mountain, and the place that is has in the Toronto Community. This is the 24^th year of the Toy Mountain Campaign, and for the first time this year, The Salvation Army will be partnering with Kits for a Cause to create Toy Mountain Kits. These kits will include items for the most needed age groups: Tweens and Teens. The Salvation Army is grateful for all toys that are donated, but sometimes certain age groups do get left out. They took care of this by offering another option; for just $25.00, a kit includes a collection of items such as a hoodie, headphones, cozy slipper socks, flannel pyjama bottoms, water bottle, wallet, winter hat, gloves and/or personal care items, etc. (a retail value of approximately $100.00!) and perfect for that tween, or teen who is difficult to buy for. Last year, over 32,000 families throughout the GTA were helped through the CTV Toy Mountain Campaign, and this is only one of the initiatives that The Salvation Army has active.

The other focus initiative is The Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign, one of Canada’s largest and most recognizable annual charitable events. The first kettle was used in Toronto in 1903, and for more than 100 years, this campaign has been a great way for people to help others in need in their local communities. To date, there are more than 2,000 kettle locations across Canada that supports Salvation Army programs.

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had the opportunity to speak with Major Rob Kerr, Director of Public Relations for the South Eastern Ontario Region. He has most recently returned to Toronto from Winnipeg, and he shared his experiences with The Salvation Army. “I have been an Ordained Minister for twenty-one years, and nothing brings me more joy then seeing communities working together for a higher cause. I enjoy working with many communities, and seeing everyone out ther on the 29^th was pretty special.”

Major Kerr also spoke directly to the needs of the communities here in Toronto,  “Far too many Canadians live without basic necessities: food, clothing, and shelter. The Salvation Army serves without discrimination; if you are in need, we are here to help out.” “What makes the Toy Mountain such a special initiative?” I questioned. “The holiday season is a season of giving, but what if you are a parent and you don’t have the ability to give? When we get our toys in, they are sent to twenty toy rooms across the city, and parents/guardians are able to come into a toy room and pick out the right toy for their child. There is some dignity in being able to have a choice, and not just being given a bag that says, ‘Boy/Girl, 7 years old.’ It is a small thing, but it goes a long way.”

The holiday season may not look the same for everyone, but at least it is good to know that there are people devoted to bringing holiday cheer at this time of year.

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