Some youngsters were really tugging hard on my heartstrings this morning.
I paid a visit to “500 block” on Herring Cove Road in Spryfield. There, I found The Salvation Army Community Response Unit (CRU), fondly referred to by some as the “ice cream truck”, parked, serving up breakfasts to residents.
Amongst the steady trickle of residents emerging from the buildings were a lot of kids. I was taken by how polite and bright they were.
I paid a visit to “500 block” on Herring Cove Road in Spryfield. There, I found The Salvation Army Community Response Unit (CRU), fondly referred to by some as the “ice cream truck”, parked, serving up breakfasts to residents.
Amongst the steady trickle of residents emerging from the buildings were a lot of kids. I was taken by how polite and bright they were.
Army volunteers: Linda, Audrey, George & Jean.
Isaiah and Uncle Wayne
“They’re just so sweet, you wanna hug the bunch”, says George, a full-time Army volunteer who regularly commandeers the CRU to Spryfield.
George and his team-mates are passionate about their mission. It’s really quite simple: just show up, make friends and connect with the kids, in particular. “If we can reach the kids, everything else will follow”, George said.
“Breakfast on the Block” is a community outreach initiative that the Army has undertaken. If the Army can introduce more positive influences into the community, then perhaps trust will be won and things can change for the better.
I’m still thinking of four-year-old Isaiah and his great-uncle Wayne. Isaiah: what a smile! They walked quite a ways down Herring Cove Road to collect a hot breakfast. Uncle Wayne was a little worn out—having picked blackberries in the bushes of their neighbourhood the previous day.
“Isaiah loves picking blackberries. It’s hard to keep up with him!” Wayne said.
I was privileged to meet both of them. They made by day today.
George and his team-mates are passionate about their mission. It’s really quite simple: just show up, make friends and connect with the kids, in particular. “If we can reach the kids, everything else will follow”, George said.
“Breakfast on the Block” is a community outreach initiative that the Army has undertaken. If the Army can introduce more positive influences into the community, then perhaps trust will be won and things can change for the better.
I’m still thinking of four-year-old Isaiah and his great-uncle Wayne. Isaiah: what a smile! They walked quite a ways down Herring Cove Road to collect a hot breakfast. Uncle Wayne was a little worn out—having picked blackberries in the bushes of their neighbourhood the previous day.
“Isaiah loves picking blackberries. It’s hard to keep up with him!” Wayne said.
I was privileged to meet both of them. They made by day today.
***
Watch this space for more stories and pictures of my experiences with the Salvation Army. You can post your comments here as well---I look forward to seeing them.
-Ron
Ron Zima ADpPR
Major Gifts Representative
Salvation Army, Maritimes Division
ron_zima@can.salvationarmy.org
For more details on the Salvation Army, visit:
Salvation Army, Maritimes Division
-Ron
Ron Zima ADpPR
Major Gifts Representative
Salvation Army, Maritimes Division
ron_zima@can.salvationarmy.org
For more details on the Salvation Army, visit:
Salvation Army, Maritimes Division
