A Leadership Breakfast with The Salvation Army

Thursday November 25, 2010
7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
The Fairmont Royal York Hotel – 100 Front St West, Toronto

Keynote Speaker: Mr. Stephen Lewis – A Celebrated Humanitarian and Former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa

Tickets: Individual – $50 | Table of 8 – $350

To order, please contact Janet Park at 416-321-2654 ext. 231 or email janet_park@can.salvationarmy.org

This year, Mission:Cuba 3 will be setting out to do five projects along with various ministry opportunities in Banes and Holguin, Cuba.

Banes Corps – we will be removing the existing roof and replacing it with a new roof. We will also paint in entirety.

Banes Retirement Quarters: paint throughout and replace existing roof.

Banes Quarters: will complete building with roof and painting (ready to move in)

Holguin Quarters and Regional Headquarters – will be painted throughout.

The Mission Cuba 3 Team will also be participating in Sunday Services, Vacation Bible School, Dedication Services, Workshops and other opportunities as they arise.

WHEN: April 2011
WHERE: Banes and Holguin, Cuba
WHAT: Teams will aid with Construction, Renovations, Leading Worship, Teaching and Training Seminars.
WHO: Adults and Teens 15 years and older. Spanish language is an asset, but not required.
HOW: Applications are now available. CLICK HERE.

Application deadline is January 1, 2011 – MISSION CUBA 3 Individual Application Form (MS Word Doc format – 464kb)

If you have any questions please send them to: mission_cuba@can.salvationarmy.org

Thursday August 19, 2010 – As The Salvation Army in Pakistan continues its initial response to the floods that have now affected more than 20 million people, The Salvation Army in Canada is pleased to announce that it will allocate $50,000 to support this relief effort.

Any public donations received by The Salvation Army that are specified to the Pakistan Flood Appeal will also be used to support the ongoing effort.

The Salvation Army in Pakistan continues to provide the basic necessities of life, including bedding, food and water to the flood victims.

The Salvation Army began its work in Pakistan in 1883 and now includes more than 700 facilities, social institutions, children’s schools and almost 90,000 members. The national leaders of The Salvation Army in Pakistan are Canadians, currently serving for the second time in that country.

Please support The Salvation Army’s relief effort in Pakistan. Financial contributions can be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769), by visiting our website, www.SalvationArmy.ca, by mailing donations to The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M4H 1P4, or dropping off financial donations at the closest Salvation Army unit in your area. Donors should specify their gift to the Pakistan Flood Appeal.

The Jays Care Foundation and Vernon Wells Perfect 10 Foundation hosted The Salvation Army at the Toronto Blue Jays Game. The Salvation Army was recognized by The Toronto Blue Jays, Jays Care Foundation and State Farm with the State Farm Good Neighbour Award.

Presenting the award is Blue Jays Centrefielder Vernon Wells and State Farm Representative Edward Okopny.

Children enjoying a great day of Blue Jays Baseball with Centrefielder Vernon Wells and Charlene Wells.

Campers at Newport Adventure Camp. Photo: CARLOS OSORIO/TORONTO STAR

City kids not only learn survival skills in the wilderness but the importance of respect

by Leslie Ferenc, Staff Reporter, The Toronto Star

SKELETON LAKE, HUNTSVILLE, ONT.—First time campers don’t know a lot about life in the outdoors including how to paddle a kayak, pitch a tent or build a campfire. Those are the survival skills they learn while in the wilderness.

But it’s rare that a camper doesn’t know how to ride a bike.

That’s a skill parents are supposed to teach their kids as a rite of passage.

So when one of the teens at the Salvation Army’s Newport Adventure Camp dug in his heels refusing to ride the woodland bike trails, Gina Haggett sensed there was more than bad attitude at play.

Turns out, he’d never had a bike and no one had ever taught him to ride, said the camp’s new director. The youth was too embarrassed to admit it.

Once he did, his counsellors went to work and within hours the 14-year-old was riding on his own. Now that was one happy camper.

Helping young people find their way is the goal at Newport Adventure Camp and other Salvation Army camps including the Blaze program for younger kids at Jackson’s Point. The Salvation Army has been offering summer escapes for children since 1898 when the first camp was established in England. In those early days, the success of the camp was based on the number of pounds children gained while there, said Haggett of poor children who were deprived of food.

These days, kids are still disadvantaged. Many come from broken homes and low income single parent families. Some live with emotional and physical abuse and violence. Some are still hungry. They’re all survivors.

Read the complete article here.

The Salvation Army would like to thank The Golden Griddle Corporation, Eddy Rawdat and the Golden Griddle Restaurant located at 45 Carlton St, Toronto for their generous and continued support of the 2010 Red White and Blue Toy Ride. Once again, the Golden Griddle is the corporate sponsor for this event which helps raise toys for our Toy Mountain Christmas campaign. Last year the toy ride collected over 360 toys and over $8,000.

Visit www.goldengriddlecorp.com for a location nearest you.

Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells is one ball player who is enjoying a rebound season. But, number 10 is more than about home runs, and making great catches and jumps on fly balls. On June 23, 2010, Vernon and his wife Charlene sat down with SalvationArmy.ca to talk about the game, their family, faith and Foundation that is dedicated to supporting and protecting children in need.

Vernon, tell us about your early years

I was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on December 8, 1978. I grew up in Arlington, Texas, where my family moved in 1988. Before I was born, my father, Vernon Wells Sr., was a football player, a receiver who, at one point, played in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders. Sports were a big part of our family.

As a young boy you were an infielder. What changed?

At age seven I began my little league career as an infielder. At age 11, I was charging ground balls before a game and got hit in the mouth. There was blood everywhere. I didn’t lose any teeth, but the hit was hard enough for me to get as far away from the batter as possible.

Describe your path to the major leagues

In high school I played quarterback on the football team, and was an outfielder on the baseball team. After graduation I signed my letter of intent to go to the University of Texas to play baseball and football. Football was as a wide receiver. Before I got my foot in the door I was drafted by the Jays in the first round of the 1997 draft. I worked my way through the minors and 2002 was my first full season with the Jays.

Can you comment on a career low and how you moved forward from it?

In 2009 I struggled with consistency at the plate. Nagging injuries caused my body to give up on me. Stats left me with some of my career-worst numbers. I was frustrated that I couldn’t make a difference in the game. In the off season surgery to a left wrist injury cleaned up fraying and inflammation. Throughout winter training I focussed on batting and made changes to my stroke. I mentally put the 2009 season behind me. If you dwell on the past you may miss something waiting for you in the future.

Charlene: In 2009 boo’s from the fans started from the time Vernon’s name was called to when he left the field. Taking our two sons, now ages five and seven, to the games was no longer an option. Vernon’s struggles at the plate caused strife in our marriage. He became disconnected from our family as he constantly replayed games over and over in his head. Nobody wanted him to do better than himself. We prayed and cried a lot.

Throughout your career, who has been your greatest mentor and why?

Without hesitation, it would be Deion Sanders, a former Major League Baseball outfielder and National League Football cornerback. He is currently an NFL Network commentator.

We met in 2000 when we both played for the Syracuse SkyChiefs. I watched how he dealt with struggles and how he carried himself.

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

The true test of a person is not how you deal with success, but how you deal with failure. It’s easy to go through the good times, but it’s how you respond and get through the tough times that define who you are.

Explain the Vernon Wells Perfect 10 Foundation

Charlene: It was established in 2008 and is a Christian faith-based organization to support and protect children and mothers in need. After embracing a charity event in our hometown we were astonished at the level of poverty we saw. We were asked to take two homeless little boys shopping for shoes. Their feet were black. They hadn’t bathed in days. They shared clothes and were undernourished. At that moment we knew we must do something to impact the lives of children in need.

One of the Foundation’s partnerships is with The Salvation Army. We admire and respect their work as they invest in the marginalized and overlooked people within our communities. Our work with The Salvation Army began in Arlington, Texas, and now we are partnering with them in the Greater Toronto Area. From cookouts to toy drives to sending kids to camp, to providing practical assistance for kids and families in need, our partnership with the Army focuses on encouraging and equipping those who have met with hard times to improve their lives.

What do you do off season?

I strive to be a successful contributor to my community in Arlington, Texas. Off season is busier than the baseball season. I meet with student organizations to share my testimony of faith and my work habits as a professional baseball player.
Most important is time spent with family. This includes our 10-year-old American Eskimo dog named Lacee. And, Charlene and I are extremely active in Christian and Jayce’s school volunteering and serving on the auction committee.

What is an important life lesson that you’ve learned?
It’s better to be a good person than to be a good baseball player.

Captains John and Brenda Murray, Ontario Central East Divisional Staff, Ambassador David Jacobson – U.S. Ambassador to Canada and Commissioners, Marilyn D. and William W. Francis – Territorial Leaders at the 4th of July Celebration at the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Ottawa.

Midland, ON – Just as people were talking about the earthquake that shook the ground the afternoon of June 23, 2010, the topic soon changed when the sky darkened, the rain came, and an F2 tornado ripped through the Smith’s Camp Trailer Park in Midland. The tornado not only plunged a town into darkness, but it left 100 trailers damaged, and approximately 40 completely destroyed. Miraculously and thankfully, no lives were lost.

At approximately 7:00 PM on June 23, Major Neil Evenden from the Midland Salvation Army, received a call about the tornado, and he then quickly made his way to the campground. Upon seeing the destruction, he immediately put The Salvation Army’s emergency response plan into action. Volunteers were summoned, the Mobile Canteen from nearby Parry Sound was called in, and resources from Toronto were put on stand-by. Jeff Robertson of the Public Relations office was called in to manage the Army’s response to the media.

Within 30 minutes, The Salvation Army set-up a registration area at the community centre to welcome and care for those displaced by the tornado. Food, warmth and compassionate care were provided by members of The Salvation Army congregation. Similarly, at the site of the tornado, a tent was erected to feed and hydrate emergency workers. Hundreds of workers poured in and out of the site over a 24-hour period, and The Salvation Army was there for the duration of the response.

Thanks to many local partners, The Salvation Army was able to provide meals, snacks, water and coffee to all those involved. Once again the topic has changed and the media have left the community, but the clean-up will continue for some time. As individuals move forward with rebuilding their lives, The Salvation Army will continue to care for those displaced or affected through the Midland Family Services office.

-30-

Neil W. Leduke
Director of Communications
The Salvation Army – Ontario Central East Division
1645 Warden Avenue
Toronto ON M1R 5B3
t) 416-321-2654 x125
f) 416-321-6479

Photos of the Toronto Grace Health Centre Irwin Roof Garden opening – Friday, June 25, 2010

Commissioner William W. Francis – Territorial Commander, TSA Canda & Bermuda Officially opened and dedicated the new rooftop garden.

Commissioner Francis with Dr. Morley Lemon, Chair, TGHC Board of Trustees Mildred Jarvis, President, TGHC following ribbon cutting and official opening.

Prayer of Dedication