Did you know that the famous Waioli Tea Room – on the United States National Register of Historic Places – is owned by The Salvation Army in Hawaii? I didn’t know until I made my first visit to our Hawaii / Pacific Islands headquarters office and got to see the tea room with my own eyes and have some lunch!
“Built in 1922, the Tea Room served as an adjunct vocational training center for young women in residence at the adjoining Children’s Home which was established by The Salvation Army in 1909. …boys and girls …were “given” to the Salvation Army for custody when parents could not care for them or they were abandoned. For many, it was the only “home” they knew throughout their childhood,” excerpt from the book Come Back to Waioli by author Bette Stillwell, available online.
And, just a short walk away from the tea room is the charming Waioli Chapel that serves as a lovely destination wedding site for couples from all over the world. Here is an exterior shot of the chapel in its lush garden setting and a photo of the interior dressed up for a wedding!
Next time you’re in Honolulu for business or pleasure, venture up Manoa Road and see some old Hawaii and Salvation Army history. Click here to visit The Salvation Army Hawaii / Pacific Island Division’s webpage to learn more about our work there.
This photo needs no explanation! But for the several who may still need one, here goes.
A group of Star Wars enthusiasts – Darth Vader and several Storm Troopers, I understand – volunteered to stand kettles this past Saturday in Colorado Springs, delighting shopkeepers and customers (and Salvation Army public relations professionals!) alike.
So far this year, the following stores have agreed to welcome our kettles. Keep in mind: most of the corporate agreements leave the final decision up to their local management staff.
If you’re wondering where to find us this year, have a look at the following stores on this list*. Check their online store locator for the precise location:
Albertsons
Bloomingdale’s
Fry’s Electronics
JCPenney
Kroger
Macy’s
Safeway
Sam’s Club
Shopko
Stater Bros.
WalMart
Just because you don’t see your favorite store on the list doesn’t mean you won’t find our kettles there this year.
Thank you to the many stores who support the needs of their community by hosting a Salvation Army kettle during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.
* This list is not exhaustive!
Here’s a link to a post I wrote back in January about The Salvation Army story I hear more frequently than any other. We have a long and warm association with our nation’s servicemen and women. Believe it or not, many of the relationships forged between members of The Salvation Army and the US Military happened over a doughnut. Click here to see a short video about our history with the doughnut during WWI and WWII.
Our sincere thanks go out to all the men and women who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. God bless you.
It’s almost the middle of November and our traditional Christmas kettles are already dotting city streets in many places around the US. And, our online counterpart is gaining visibility too.
If you’ve always wanted to ring the bell but have, a) a packed holiday calendar, b) an aversion to shopping malls, or c) a fear of frostbite, we’ve got the solution. Ring online!
I’ve already started my own personal kettle. Here’s what it looks like (feel free to click on the link and make a gift!):
It couldn’t be easier to set up a kettle:
> Just follow this link to The Salvation Army USA Online Red Kettle site
> Click the red “start a new kettle” button in the middle of the page
> Choose the type of kettle you’d like to create (personal or team)
> Set a dollar goal
> Proceed to the registration page and tell us who you are and where you’re located
> Set up your login ID and password
> Bookmark your kettle page so you can get to it easily
If you need some extra help setting up your kettle, please watch our video tutorials.
Once you’re logged in, you can click on “manage my settings” at the top right corner. From there you can customize your page, email your friends, and install the Facebook application which will help you get the word out about your kettle to your online community.
Give it a try this year! You’ll be helping The Salvation Army in your community minister to people who are struggling to take care of themselves and their families.
Let me know if you’ve started your own kettle in the comment section below. Feel free to give us a link to your kettle page too.
Thank you and God bless you!
Just in time for Thanksgiving, food blogger Chef John of the Food Wishes blog spent the day with The Salvation Army’s very own Chef Anthony Pardi in San Francisco to exchange secrets for preparing that perfect holiday meal, while showcasing the Army’s local meal program.
Also, Chef John is challenging his hundreds of blog subscribers and readers to participate in the Turkey Drop Turkey Drive this Saturday by donating as many turkeys as they can fit in their car! His staff has crunched the numbers and says that a mid-sized car can fit up to 18 of the frozen birds! The winner of Chef John’s challenge will win a super-special prize. Check his blog to find out more.
Thank you San Francisco foodies for your special kind of love this Thanksgiving season.
Laine Hendricks contributed to this story too!
My friends and colleagues may be shocked to hear this, but last evening the power was out at my house for three hours and I didn’t have a flashlight handy. I had some candles and a radio, but I didn’t have anything specific for emergencies, stored a place where I could get at it easily. And to top it off, I was down to three double A batteries. If the blackout had lasted more than a few hours, I would have been totally powerless.
All that to say: are you ready should the earth start shaking under your feet, or wildfires descend upon your home? You’re in good company. I’m not ready either, as last evening’s wind storm and power outage proves.
At the moment, I’m at the airport in Detroit waiting on a flight to Chicago where I’ll teach a day-long class tomorrow on setting up and managing a public relations effort during disaster. I’ve brought some gifts along for my favorite students: a USB flash drive (also called a jump drive or thumb drive) etched with a Salvation Army logo where they can store important documents in case of emergency.
You ought to do it too. Go to your nearest computer supply store or big box store and buy a USB flash drive. Buy several and share them with your friends. You don’t have to get a big one; 8 gigbytes ought to be enough. On it put scanned copies of insurance documents, a copy of your social security card and drivers license, your bank account and credit card numbers, photographs, important phone numbers, and anything else you want to safely store in the event of a disaster.
I’m going to take a page from my own playbook and load up a USB flash drive with important documents when I get home. And buy a new flashlight. And stock up on batteries. And get a solar-powered radio. And..well, you get the idea.
While you’re at it, check out the website called Ready.gov. They’ve got lots of other good ideas about how to prepare your family for disaster.
The Salvation Army in Denver and Colorado Springs have a good friend in town: Old Navy stores! They’ve teamed up to do a food drive that will provide hungry people with essential food items to silence the sound of empty stomachs this winter.
Two Old Navy stores in Denver and two in Colorado Springs will provide a 10% discount off your entire purchase if you bring a non-perishable food donation to the store until Sunday, October 25. What are you waiting for? Get over there right now and support their 1 Can Make a Difference campaign!
Not only is Old Navy is a good corporate citizen, they suggest a great list of food items to pick from. I’m very impressed! So, if you’re looking for inspiration about what kinds of things work best for hungry families, you can’t go wrong picking something from Old Navy’s list:
> Ready-to-eat canned fruits and vegetables
> Canned juice, milk and low sodium soups
> High-energy foods such as peanut butter, jelly and salt-free crackers
> Trail mix in airtight bags or containers
> Compressed food bars which are high in protein (such as Power Bars or Clif Bars)
> Dried foods like beef or turkey jerky (watch for salt content)
> Freeze-dried foods like hummus mix or vegetarian chili mix (found in the health food section of most grocery stores)
> Whole grain cereals like oatmeal and low-fat granola
> Snack-sized canned goods with pull-off lids
> Beverages in foil packets or boxes such as Capri Sun and Hi-C
> Nonperishable canned foods for the family pets
> At least a three-day supply of bottled water: three gallons for each person
> Canned tuna or ham
> Pastas in any shape or size
Thank you to the Old Navy stores in Denver and Colorado Springs. You’re definitely Doing the Most Good for hungry families this winter!
Over the last several months, we’ve presented a few 30 second video spots about fun and interesting facts about The Salvation Army’s history and ministry.
Now, they’re all assembled into a handy playlist on YouTube. Click the right or left arrows on the screen below to watch all five.
Check back often. We plan to post new “Did You Know” videos every few weeks.
Thanks for watching!
I just HAD to blog a little bit about this story!
In my ten years with The Salvation Army, this is the first time I’ve heard about a fundraiser where folks get together and pay for the opportunity to “pen” cows. Perhaps it’s because I’m a city girl, but I think it’s a creative and exciting way to raise money to fund the work of the Army.
And, I admit, I love seeing our man in Idaho Falls, Major Sam Southard, decked out in full Salvation Army uniform and cowboy hat, complete with a red Salvation Army hat band. That’s just how they do it in Idaho!
Here’s how the fund-raiser worked: 25 contestants paid an entry fee to be on a team of three riders. The object was to “cut” specific numbered cows from a herd of ten, and then lead them into a pen while being timed. The team that “penned” the most in the shortest amount of time won!
Our very own Major Sam Southard participated in the event on his beautiful horse, Prince. The Salvation Army was also on hand to serve concessions outside the Broken Bit Arena from their mobile kitchen.
And, the event raised $1,000 to help provide programs and services for needy people in Idaho.
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Stop by and check this Salvation Army blog often for stories of transformation from our alcohol and drug rehab programs, worship centers, homeless or family shelters, youth programs, thrift stores, Kroc Centers and so much more. When you support The Salvation Army, expect change!