Image courtesy of www.wrex.com
I, like most, people when they think of the Salvation Army think of the bell ringers at Christmas time. I see them daily since they normally stand outside the building where I work or across the street at Walgreen's. Something about the bucket with the perfect little slot and the bell and Christmas...make me want to give. Of course then I encounter them on the next block and then the next block and the next, when I go for lunch... " I just gave at the last one"... they're thinking...."sure you did", but always with a smile.
My favorites are the group of them that show up on certain days and sing with some brass instruments. To me they sound very accomplished at Christmas jazz. These guys know how to sing, move and groove and ring the bell at the same time.
Fast forward I have no idea how many months. I'm attending a seminar on stopping human trafficking. What an ugly messy topic. But, I know it exists across the world and I should be informed on how to help and stop sticking my head in the ground. That doesn't make it really go away.
Multiple agencies are there to speak... Chicago Dream Center, Chicago Department of Housing, ..... Salvation Army.....errrr, backup, what!?... Salvation Army?? Yes, Salvation Army Promise Program - Anne's House. Long story short, they rescue minors from exploitation. Oh dear, this is happening here?? In Chicago? I thought "those" problems were somewhere far away. Here, I thought we were so refined, educated, beyond that. Shame on us! BUT thank you to Salvation Army for their Promise Program and for Anne's House and the 12-21 year olds that they shelter from the storm.
**LittleGemsUSA's first donation was to Salvation Army Promise Program for $107.40.
Image courtesy of www.salarmyomaha.org
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