Support from the top

by Maritime
Categories: News Archive
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    Dave Jackson was quite taken aback when he was told that he had received the international Hussman award, “Live It Like Hussman” on April 21, 2014. The Hussman Corporation provides food refrigeration services around the world. The award was given to recognize Dave’s outstanding efforts within his community. “The work that you continue to do within The Salvation Army family, most specifically, the Salvation Army Community Response Unit (CRU) in Halifax, is commendable, and what we as an organization aspire to reflect in our communities,” writes Jay Welu, VP of Branch Operations.

    Dave has been volunteering with The Salvation Army for the last 20 years. He began working on the CRU seven years ago. Now he’s the lead guy on the truck, and is in charge of most of the driving as a part of the Cold Weather Ministry program. The truck heads out every Wednesday evening to Spring Garden Road from November to April. They serve a hot meal, custom-made sandwiches, warm beverages, blankets, and offer spiritual advice.

    There can be anywhere from four people to 75 people on a good night. “The quieter it is, the more opportunity you have to talk to them,” says Dave. “It’s all about the relationships. You start out with something as simple as giving food. When we’re on the street you’re also giving out shoes, jackets, hats and socks. Some of those guys out on the street can be wearing the same socks for four, five, six days in a row, so a change of socks can be pretty important. Once you’ve met all those needs, then you can start talking to them about other stuff. We make a connection with them. We know most of them by name.”

    The Hussman organization is supporting these efforts. “My workplace knows that on Wednesday evenings, I can’t be working late,” states Dave. The CRU is not only used during Wednesday nights, but also to lend support during times of crisis. Dave was there to lend a hand during the 2008 Porters Lake fire, feeding 5000 people from the truck. When asked why Dave does it, his answer was simple, “I do it because it’s what I’m supposed to do, isn’t it? The Salvation Army is about helping people.”