It’s an iconic image during the holiday season – red kettles out in front of stores collecting for the Salvation Army.
Joining the “Municipal Voice,” a co-production of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and WNHH 103.5 FM, Major Charles Adams gave us a history lesson behind these traditions, as well as the good work that they continue to do in New Haven and beyond.
“First and foremost, we are a Christian church,” Major Adams said, originally preaching to “drunkards and prostitutes” that were not welcome in the local community as the founders had hoped.
From that time, the Army grew into a “practical ministry” that was about meeting needs.
This was true in 1891 San Fransisco when Captain Joseph McPhee set out to feed 1000 people during Christmastime. The only problem was that he didn’t have any money.
Remembering charities back in London, McPhee took a “big, brass urn and put it out on the Oakland ferry landing and started collecting money.”
Not long afterward, he had enough money to provide meals for 1,000 people, and over 100 years later, that is still how the Salvation Army collects a large portion of their money.
Today, they are still feeding folks in need as well as making sure that first responders are being fed when responding to disasters like the recent tornadoes in Arkansas and Kentucky.
In Connecticut, where Major Adams is stationed, he says that one of their responsibilities is to be effective partners with government and other organizations.
One program, called Pathway of Hope, is about treating the causes of poverty rather than the symptoms.
Major Adams told us this program has had many success stories in Southern New England with families learning to provide for themselves, build on their progress, and breaking a cycle of poverty.
“We’ve been blessed to see just tons of families that have graduated through this program that have gotten housing for the first time, custody of their kids, CNA licenses, just a variety of different things.”
While the Salvation Army and their kettles may be more visible during the holiday season, they operate year-round.
Coat drives are important during the winter, but the food pantry is always available for families in need. Major Adams urged listeners to follow up by going to SalvationArmyCT.org to see how you can help this holiday season and beyond.
Thank you to the Salvation Army for helping people in need and first responders.