C o m m u n i t y
R e p o r t
Seeds of Hope: The Horticultural Zone Celebrates its First Spring
As the winter frost melts in Philadelphia, planting will begin for this year’s crops at The Salvation Army’s Horticultural Zone. Established in the summer of 2012 and located at the Kroc Center, the Horticultural Zone is a one-third acre garden holding fourteen beds for planting vegetables and flowers. Its purpose is to introduce locally grown produce and healthy eating concepts to participants in Kroc Center programs while providing a hands-on learning experience. “In inner city areas there is not a lot of access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Andy Nolan, manager of the Horticultural Zone, states. “Our goal is to open up the Horticultural Zone to anyone interested in learning more about gardening.” To date, most of the volunteers at the Horticultural Zone have been seniors, many of whom grew up on farms and have shared valuable lessons on gardening. Regular volunteers at the Horticultural Zone can take home some of the produce they help to cultivate. They are also part of the decision making process regarding which crops are planted, with collard greens, cherry tomatoes and hot peppers receiving the most requests. Vegetables grown at the Horticultural Zone are also transformed into healthy dishes served at the Kroc Center Café where Glenn Burd, the head chef, is an avid gardener himself. Since its launch last year, the Horticultural Zone has hosted educational programs for all ages. Last summer, during the “Flock to the Kroc” program, elementary schoolaged summer campers came to the Horticultural Zone twice a week to learn the basics of growing vegetables and maintaining gardens. During the school year, children from the Homework Zone and the early childhood education program visit the garden once a week and have
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already planted spring bulbs and a tree. In the spring, members of a teen cooking class at the Kroc Center will be given lessons in growing ingredients for their meals. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also provides free monthly gardening workshops at the Kroc Center throughout the year. In an effort to extend the gardening season, Mr. Nolan and his team are building a hoop house (similar to a greenhouse) for the gardens. This addition will enable the team to plant summer seeds earlier and extend fall crops into the winter. Mr. Nolan is also working to secure the wood and materials it takes to install raised beds in the gardens that will provide higher yields and better weed and pest control. continued on back
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The Changing Face of Adoption: Children’s Services Introduces New Matching Training Program
Throughout the state of Pennsylvania, trends in adoption are changing and The Salvation Army’s Children’s Services Department is responding with a new Matching Training Program to help pair children in foster care waiting to be adopted with permanent families eager to welcome them home.
to present the realities of foster care and adoption in Pennsylvania, as well as to provide agencies with ways in which they can respond. These events have included seminars, movie screenings with panel discussions, and the first annual “Rock and Run 4 Kids” 5K held last May that was themed “foster care and adoption rocks.”
Until recently the vast majority of families hoping to adopt were most interested in children under the age of five with only minor physical or emotional issues. The reality is these children represented less than 33 percent of all in foster care last year. Within the past six months, however, there has been an increase in families interested in welcoming older children from foster care and/or children with special needs. There has also been more openness to taking in groups of siblings who previously would have been separated in the adoption process. In the Pennsylvania Salvation Army Children’s Services alone, the number of families expressing interest in becoming adoptive parents has risen 400 percent since September of 2011.
“One of the things that we are trying to do through these programs is to convey a hopeful but realistic vision of who needs to be adopted,” said Paashaus. “Most of the time when people think adoption, they think of a baby brought home from the hospital, but that’s not the reality. Adoption from foster care is different.”
Rachel Paashaus, resource specialist and adoption supervisor for The Salvation Army, credits the majority of this shift in mindset to an increase in awareness of the need to adopt both domestically and specifically within Pennsylvania. She notes that, over the past 18 months, The Salvation Army has rolled out several faith-based and non-denominational initiatives throughout the Lehigh Valley in an effort to network with various agencies
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With this increase in interest, the screening methods for families looking to adopt have become more stringent. “The Matching Training Program” is tailored specifically to address these changes and educate prospective families on the matching process -- where the children are, what the needs are and how they can prepare themselves for the interviewing process,” continued Paashaus. “We are starting this training program so that families can be better equipped and will have a greater opportunity for success when they have a child placed in their home.” Matching Training programs will be held on a quarterly basis as needed. For more information on Matching Training or to speak with someone about starting the adoption process, please contact The Salvation Army Children’s Services at (610) 821.7706.
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Disaster Relief
Helping Hurricane Sandy Victims Months after Hurricane Sandy made landfall, the Emergency Disaster Services Unit of The Salvation Army continues to support those looking to restore and renew their lives, homes and communities. Hurricane Sandy, the largest to ever hit the Atlantic Coast, made landfall in late October and affected nine states. In its path the storm left devastating damage to homes and businesses, flooded subways, and closed bridges and tunnels. Nearly 3 million were without power, some for more than three weeks. Those looking to find shelter after the storm or to power their homes with portable generators faced a gasoline shortage. When first responders arrived at the storm damaged areas, The Salvation Army followed them with material and physical comforts as well as spiritual and emotional support. This was in the form of serving 263,511 meals, providing 24,000 hours of volunteer service, and by distributing more than 750,000 commodities including clothing, food items, paper goods and cleaning supplies.
For months following the storm, case managers from The Salvation Army provided emotional and spiritual care, counseling and financial assistance programs in an effort to begin the long-term recovery process. Case workers provided storm victims with gift cards to Walmart, Target, and local food stores thanks mostly to the considerable donations received from both individuals and corporations. Partners including FedEx, Target, the PNC Foundation, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and Eli Lilly provided cash and in-kind donations, as well as donation-matching pledges. Within one week of the storm’s landfall, The Salvation Army had also received more than $4 million in on-line pledges. “This will be both a response and a recovery effort, and we will be there every step of the way for those in need,” said Major George Hood, National Community Relations and Development Secretary. “We would not be able to do what we do were if not for the generosity of the American public and our partners.”
Within Pennsylvania alone, The Salvation Army supported 22 service sites over eight counties while also providing ongoing deployments to the areas hardest hit in the neighboring states of New Jersey and New York, where eight special needs shelters had been established. The Salvation Army of Pennsylvania sent three canteens, 12 staff members, 74 pieces of food service equipment and four portable generators to New York and New Jersey in an effort to provide for the basic needs of those displaced and in shelters. Through a broad coalition of partners, The Salvation Army served as the lead agency for New York City’s Food Access Plan, providing 860,000 meals in the region by coordinating distribution to 12 sites in Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. Salvation Army trucks served a dual purpose by distributing supplies and hauling away debris to make roads passable.
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To read about The Salvation Army’s extensive Emergency and Disaster Services efforts, visit disaster.salvationarmyusa.org. To support these relief efforts, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
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2011
Vendy Award
Food for the Soul! Anthony Fitzgerald’s Journey from Soup’s On! to the Vendy Award
Every platter from the Gigi and Big R. Caribbean / American Soul Food truck on 38th and Spruce Streets comes with a healthy side of inspiration served by Anthony Fitzgerald. Working as the truck’s food manager for more than two years, Fitzgerald is a success story from The Salvation Army’s “Soup’s On!” Project. Launched in 1999 and housed at The Salvation Army’s Eliza Shirley campus, the Soup’s On! Project is a three-month program that provides job skills, training and placement in the field of culinary arts for economically disadvantaged people and participants in various Salvation Army programs. To date, the program boasts more than 485 graduates, 85 percent of whom landed jobs in the restaurant and catering business. In addition to providing hands-on training for its students, the Soups On! Project also produces nearly 30 gallons of soup each day that is used by Salvation Army locations or sold to local markets. Students of the Soup’s On! Project also
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learn the business by working at lavish events catered by the organization. Fitzgerald first heard about the Soup’s On! Project when he was going through a difficult period, trying to rebuild his life and start a new career. He decided to interview for the program despite the fact that he’d never had much interest in learning how to cook. As a student of Soup’s On! founder and program director, Wiggy Olson, and Chef Jay Kaufman, Fitzgerald received an extra helping of education and support from the two. “I can’t tell you how much they taught me and how grateful I am,” said Fitzgerald of Olson and Kaufman. “They became more than my instructors. They were my friends.” Fitzgerald hoped upon graduation to work for The Salvation Army, but when no immediate openings were available, he accepted a job offer from his friend Elukene Rene, co-owner of the Gigi
and Big R truck in West Philadelphia. Not long after beginning work, he was promoted to Food Manager. In 2011 Fitzgerald and his coworkers won the first ever “Philadelphia Vendy Cup,” a contest to recognize the top food truck in the city, judged by top food critics and chefs as well as Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. Fitzgerald, now a graduate of seminary school, is an active member of his church and still stops by to see his friends from the Soup’s On! Team. “I wouldn’t be where I am today - it’s all because of what Miss Wiggy and The Salvation Army taught me,” said Fitzgerald. “God sent me on that path. I had no way of knowing where it would take me. But, you know, God always knows best. I am so thankful – I can’t imagine where I would be now if I hadn’t gone to The Salvation Army.” For more information about the Soup’s On! program, contact Arlene “Wiggy” Olson at 215-452-0430.
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The Art of Success: The Red Shield Family Residence – PAFA Partnership Located only six blocks from one another, The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Family Residence and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) might as well have been worlds apart. While the two groups had been looking for ways to work together for years, it took a generous donor’s funded partnership program in June 2012 to bring them together. The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Family Residence provides emergency housing for homeless families, and case management services to help the families gain and keep stability once they are able to secure housing of their own. Just down the road, PAFA is a national leader in fine arts education that brings together artists and the public through its teaching programs, American art collections, and public programs. When approached with the idea of uniting the two, the donor was eager to contribute. “Philadelphia is a city of history and culture,” said the donor who chooses to remain anonymous. “Opening up such interests for these families helps them to take advantage of what is right at their doorstep.” Leaders from the Red Shield Family Residence and PAFA approached this opportunity from two different yet complimentary directions. One piece of the program provided art education for children in the Red Shield’s summer camp program and included five visits to the PAFA galleries followed by art lessons taught by PAFA educators. The other piece utilized PAFA’s established Family Arts program designed to use intergenerational art programs to strengthen family bonds. As part of this program, members of PAFA visit the Red Shield Family Residence and facilitate hands-on art projects meant to be completed by adults and children together. PAFA also hosted a series called “Motherhood Through the Arts,” incorporating a current PAFA exhibit to facilitate discussions and create art projects with mothers of infants in the residence. PAFA also provides tokens for families to travel to and experience the museum once a month. A key to the partnership between PAFA and the Red Shield Family Residence has been mutual dedication to its continued success. Members of the Red Shield Staff have been attending seminars at PAFA, bringing the lessons back to the residents. “We have been especially impressed with the Red Shield Staff and their excitement to build upon this experience,” said Monica Zimmerman, PAFA’s director of education. “It’s an incredible commitment.”
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Sheila Dickens-Mosley, the director of the Red Shield Family Residence has seen the program’s impact. “With art, there is no right or wrong answer,” said Dickens-Mosely. “That in itself is very uplifting and it gives hope. Art has given both the children and the parents a forum for success that they carry with them.” After hearing the results, the donor said they were, “astounded to hear how much they accomplished with our modest contribution.” “We plan to continue our contributions and hope others will too. Keeping children excited about learning is an investment in their future and ours as well.” For more information about this partnership please contact Sheila Dickens-Mosely at 215-787-2965.
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The IRA charitable rollover is back for 2013 Charitable distributions from your IRA are tax free in 2013, and will satisfy your required minimum distribution. Donors age 70½ and older are once again eligible to move up to $100,000 from their IRAs directly to qualified charities without having to pay income taxes on the money. That means income tax savings, even for donors who do not itemize their deductions. Only the IRA custodian can transfer gift amounts to a qualified organization. If IRA owners withdraw funds and then contribute them to charity separately, amounts withdrawn will be taxable to the donor. IRA gifts must be made outright; they cannot be made to establish charitable remainder trusts or charitable gift annuities. Please feel free to call Sharon Somers, Director of Planned Giving, if you would like more information, 800-262-2523.
Seeds of Hope continued from front
As the Horticultural Zone grows, Mr. Nolan hopes to see more young people taking an interest in gardening and he is looking to create mentoring relationships between adults who are passionate about gardening and children and teens. If you would like to volunteer at the Horticultural Zone, stop by (9 AM and 3 PM Monday – Friday) or contact Andy Nolan Directly at (215) 558-1580.
our mission The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs, in His name, without discrimination.
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Gift Options
SalvationArmyPhiladelphia.org/Give
CREDIT CARD
E-TRANSFER
Charge your donation to your Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express card by: » Calling 1-800-Sal-Army » Going Online, using our secure server, at: www.SalvationArmyPhiladelphia.org
gift of stock and planned giving
Join The Army’s LifeChangers pledge program by having your gift transferred each month from your checking account directly to The Salvation Army, using electronic fund transfer. For details, call Arminta Watkins at 215-787-2971.
MATCHING GIFTS
To find out if your employer or your spouse’s employer matches charitable contributions, visit, www.SalvationArmyPhiladelphia.org.
Our planned giving staff is available to assist you with a wire transfer of stock or to visit with you to discuss the most appropriate estate plan or provide you with information about charitable gift annuities. For more information, call Sharon Somers at 1-800-262-2523.
united way
Designate your gift to The Salvation Army using code #107.
Help Army programs in your area at any time by sending your check or money order, made payable to The Salvation Army, to 701 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123.
is published by The Salvation Army, PENDEL Division, Divisional Development Department to educate our partners on the services we provide to those in need. If you are receiving duplicate copies of this newsletter or have questions or concerns, please contact Arminta Watkins at 215-787-2971.
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