The Salvation Army is a very well-known organization. They have some thrift stores and you hear a lot about them around the holidays when the Santas hang out in front of department stores with their bells and buckets. But most of us don’t have a really good idea of what the Salvation Army really does. And our team got to see them in action first hand during our time in New York City.
Our team stayed at the Manhattan Salvation Army’s facility and was graciously hosted by the joyful and loving staff there. We were always greeted with a friendly smile and helped with anything we could have needed during our stay. But the truly great part was having the opportunity to help them.
Nearly every day of our trip we had students and leaders from our youth groups serving at the S.A’s Soup Kitchen. Four days a week, every week, they open their doors to the city’s people in need, no questions asked. Hot meals are provided for them at no charge from noon to 1pm.
Ed, the S.A.’s Social Worker, prepared us for the lunches before the doors opened. He told us that the guests coming to the Soup Kitchen every day ranged from homeless or addicted to drugs or alcohol, to very low-income families who work hard, yet can barely afford their rent, let alone food. He explained that the guests would come in the door and be seated at the tables set with placemats and cutlery, then wait patiently to be served by our volunteers. “The people who come here aren’t saints,” he said. “They aren’t perfect out there, but when they come here, they know they’ll be treated with respect. They are really some good people. And they are truly hungry.”
So our team put on our aprons, gloves and hairnets. We filled cups, scooped food onto plates, and served each guest with smiles of joy and compassion. It was a life-changing experience for many of us.
Later, in our team’s debrief, many students shared how deeply it affected them when they set a plate of food in front of someone and in return the guest looked them in the eye with genuine smiles and thanked them whole-heartedly. We saw people in old and ripped clothes, people with open wounds left untreated, people who may not receive a friendly smile and kind word at any other time in their week. It was an honor to serve them with the love of Christ.
We also served at the Salvation Army Manhattan Citadel, the location across town where our team stocked groceries in the food pantry, moved boxes and served in their Soup Kitchen as well. We helped organize clothing and supplies for the days when the Salvation Army opens their doors to people who just need some soap or a clean shirt. We even had the opportunity to love on the children who come after school to do homework and have dinner at the S.A. It was their last week of school and got to laugh and play with them, giving them attention we know they may not receive at home.
Each day that we served with the Salvation Army, we were encouraged and blessed to be a part of something so generous and so genuine. So if you are passing by a person in a Santa suit collecting change for the Salvation Army this Christmas, think twice before walking by or questioning whether or not the money really goes toward a good cause. I know we will. We saw it in action. And we saw it overflowing with unconditional love and generosity to those who are truly in need.
