Central News Pages Feb08
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The Salvation Army / USA Central Territory News and Views from the Midwest “We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future.” Eph. 4:3,4 (NLT) Volume 47, Number 2 February 2017 Echelon helping to revitalize Detroit by Danielle Grecco etroit, Mich., could be one of the largest Dcomeback stories in United States history. The city filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in 2013, which dev - taking great strides to strengthening astated Detroit communities. Echelon Detroit. To get others However, with amazing tenaci - invested, Echelon focuses on three ty and vigor Detroit has begun areas: meaningful social network - to revitalize. ing, donations and fundraising, and service and volunteering. The Salvation Army in Detroit does not take lightly the “Our chapter comes at a critical time and effort needed to time in our community, and our rebuild communities and con - families and neighborhoods that future footprint will be shaped on tinues to provide hope to the remain underserved. To connect how we approach this opportunity,” Millennials in Detroit with The shared Amil Kapoor, first Echelon Salvation Army so they can give Detroit president and market sales back, interact and make an impactful manager at Bank of difference, Echelon Detroit was America/Merrill Lynch. born. The first few events incorporated Firm foundation going up With the help of Echelon chapters volunteer and social events to around the United States and an engage Echelon members in giving in Omaha extremely supportive Metro Detroit back while raising awareness of Advisory Board, the Army was able various Salvation Army programs that run all year. There Echelon has by Jennifer Bull to begin sharing the mission of Echelon and capture the hearts and been able to raise awareness and t The Salvation Army Ray minds of several young professionals engage with other Millennials and and Joan Kroc Corps who became the founding Echelon business partners while providing ACommunity Center in Detroit board. various in-kind donations that sup - port Salvation Army programs. Omaha, Neb., another mile - “Young adults throughout Metro stone was reached in the construction Detroit have so much to offer this Echelon Detroit continues to gain enhancement project as officers, community, and I cannot wait to see momentum and with continued employees, volunteers, members and how our Echelon chapter will aid support and recruitment will guests signed one of the beams that enough to hold potential and oppor - our neighbors in need,” said Metro impact Metro Detroit for years to will be used in the project. tunities, yet porous enough to let Detroit Advisory Board Chairman come. The purpose behind the Omaha creativity and spirit flow through. and National Kroc Center is to provide a firm foun - The Omaha Kroc Center’s con - Advisory Board dation for growth, a safe structure for struction enhancement project member John Latella. activities and new opportunities. The includes a much needed 18,000- By extending exist - beam signing provided a moment to square-foot addition which brings ing partnerships with reflect on how this structure is being the center to 140,000 square feet Quicken Loans, Bank designed and built: to be strong total. The new addition will house a of America and Ford, walking track, a roomy fit - to name a few, ness deck and a larger fit - Echelon Detroit ness studio (all requested by became a group that members). The new addition joined powerful busi - will also allow other existing ness forces to “mobi - areas of the center to be lize the next genera - revitalized and repurposed as tion” in giving back. fun areas for kids to play in and families to be together Simultaneously, and socialize. Ford happened to be launching a program The Kroc centers exist for called “Thirty under a diversity of people and to 30,” where groups of foster great minds, provide Millennials took time opportunities and expand to help shape an horizons. They provide chil - Major Greg Thompson, Western divisional comman - approach to reach der, Majors Todd and Catherine Thielke who lead the dren and adults with an the young profession - Omaha, Neb., Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Continued on page 9 al crowd, therefore Center, and Mike Procopio of MCL Construction. 2 9 1 0 6 L I , s e t a t s E n a m f f o H , y w k P e n o t S e i r i a r P 0 5 5 5 , r e g a n a M n o i t a l u c r i C : o t n o i t c e r r o c r u o y h t i w l e b a l d e h c a t t a e h t d n e S ? g n i v o M 2 9 1 0 6 L I , s e t a t s E n a m f f o H y w k P e n o t S e i r i a r P 0 5 5 5 Y M R A N O I T A V L A S E H T 2 when we go through hard times, Uplifting moments and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that for challenging days we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We by Lt. Colonel Ralph Bukiewicz have plenty of hard times that Territorial Secretary for Personnel to National Sticky Bun Day and come from following the Messiah, National Public Sleeping Day. We’ll but no more so than the good do just about anything to survive this times of his healing comfort—we f you’re hoping to fill your month, won’t we? ules and expectations from others. get a full measure of that, too. February days with uplifting We are people of Grace—and com - Iactivities, you’re not alone. Tucked between useless and forget - passion must be the language we use When we suffer for Jesus, it Psychologists tell us February is table observations are reminders to to reach those who are immune to works out for your healing and one of the most depressing months make a difference in someone else’s any other method. salvation. If we are treated well, and for several reasons. Snow just life. You’ll find National Make a given a helping hand and encour - Friend Day, National Shut-In Thoughtfulness is contagious. Once aging word, that also works to isn’t exciting anymore. You’re tired we catch someone off-guard with a of being sick (or being surrounded by Visitation Day and even National Do your benefit, spurring you on, face a Grouch a Favor Day followed by gesture of grace or an unexpected forward, unflinching. Your hard those who are). Days are gray and kindness, they’re more conscious of short. And tradition tells us that our National Random Acts of Kindness times are also our hard times. Day this month. doing it for someone else. So, infect When we see that you’re just as future (short-range) happiness is sup - someone else’s cold February with posed to be based on a timid rodent. Maybe none of these will be a part willing to endure the hard times as the truth of 2 Corinthians 1:4-7, The to enjoy the good times, we know Once we survive Groundhog Day of your schedule, but then again it Message: shouldn’t take a special national you’re going to make it, no doubt (February 2), Valentine’s Day He [God] comes alongside us about it. (February 14) and President’s Day observation to get us to look up, look (February 20) give us something to around and invest in someone else’s look forward to. If that isn’t enough, wellbeing. there’s a “National something-or- We risk diluting the effects of our other” every single day of this month service and diffusing the impact of ranging from National Homemade our ministry if all we do is focus on Soup Day to National Toothache Day the daily demands of our busy sched - A bridge not too far alvation Army emergency occurred in Franklin County, Mo., disaster services (EDS) in the last year. SMidland Division made pos - The flood waters were strong sible the rebuilding of a enough to sweep away the 2,000- creek crossing and steep road to free pound concrete blocks supporting three elderly people with health the creek crossing, and heavy rains problems who were trapped in their caused a landslide of mud that oblit - hill-top homes after massive flooding erated the hillside road to the cross - ing, reported Alicia Justice, Salvation Army disaster case manager for Franklin County. Alicia continues to be responsible for meeting the needs of flood sur - vivors in the county, which lies in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains; more than half of the 142 cases she received are still current. As a mem - ber of the long-term recovery com - mittee assembled for the region by various aid agencies and churches, Pictured (l-r) are Thomas Reed, Alicia Justice and Jim and Sue Reed. Alicia received referrals of people in the greatest need. dents, Jim and Sue Reed and Jim’s community to restore their mobility “Volunteer crews from local brother, Thomas, to rebuild the sim - before the start of the region’s next churches dug out the steep road, the ple bridge. In addition, Alicia was rainy season.