Listen to this article
We’re back again this year to share our recap of 23 good things that happened in 2023.
What started back in 2020 as a way to highlight some wins after a year of unprecedented hardship and loss for so many, has blossomed into an annual tradition here at Caring. Consider it a moment to reflect on all the bright, shining positives that sometimes get lost in the never ending news cycle of negativity that seems to surround us.
So join the Caring team as we take a trip down memory lane with 23 of our favorite things that happened this year…
1. In Southern California, The Salvation Army expanded its offerings of affordable and permanent supportive housing facilities.
The Salvation Army hosted ribbon cuttings for two new housing facilities in Pasadena and Orange County this year, with a third in the works in San Diego. These projects will provide critical resources to help people on the path to exiting homelessness.
2. In Modesto, California, seniors raised funds for a trip to Disneyland.
Seniors from The Salvation Army Modesto Red Shield Center raised funds for a trip to Disneyland in celebration of the anniversary of the Red Shield’s Senior Center.
3. Sesame Street Muppets helped explain the opioid pandemic to young children.
More than 4% of children in the U.S. live in households where opioids are misused by a parent. To help ease the confusion and anxiety around dealing with drug misuse, Sesame Workshop developed resources for children whose parents are struggling with addiction or are in recovery.
4. Some 400 volunteers from the Home Depot Foundation beautified The Salvation Army in Cathedral City, California.
Hundreds of Home Depot Foundation volunteers united to transform The Salvation Army Cathedral City Dick and Beverly Davis Center and neighboring Veterans Village. Volunteers geared up to paint walls and murals, build benches, picnic tables, plant stands and patio furniture, while others constructed garden beds with shade-providing plants and installed umbrellas and seating areas.
5. In Las Cruces, New Mexico, ‘Dance of Champions’ brought people of all abilities together.
Inspired by the 2023 movie “Champions,” Inez Hinojos developed a monthly dance event at The Salvation Army where people of all ages and abilities come together in an uplifting environment to dance the night away.
6. Across the western U.S., Silvercrest Residences cared for centenarians.
Living to be 100—a centenarian—might seem unattainable; that’s decades after 65, the age one officially becomes a senior citizen, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. While genetics, diet and exercise play a role in longevity, that’s not all that matters. Community, like that found in The Salvation Army Western Territory’s Silvercrest senior residences, is vital.
7. After an earthquake in Morocco, a team of search and rescue dogs located survivors at the epicenter.
Emergency response organization SAMU deployed a team of 19 people and two search and rescue dogs to help locate survivors in order to provide life-saving medical care after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Morocco in September.
8. Chef Timothy Tucker gave culinary students the tools to succeed after Salvation Army programs.
A key part of The Way Out initiative, Chef Timothy Tucker’s Culinary Training Academy at The Salvation Army in San Francisco teaches life skills and job training to people moving through recovery.
9. Following devastating wildfires in Maui, vacationers volunteered with The Salvation Army.
Volunteers pivoted from vacationing to join The Salvation Army’s ongoing response to the devastating fires that destroyed Lahaina in August, supporting both survivors and the Incident Command Team.
10. A new dog park enhanced life for shelter residents in Bell, California.
The Salvation Army Bell Shelter opened its first-ever dog park to offer extended resources to residents and their canine companions, including kennels, essential supplies, washing stations and a play area.
11. TikTok-viral glasses provided subtitles to deaf and hard of hearing people in real-time.
TranscribeGlass frames use wearable AR to transcribe speech and project words for the wearer, all in real-time. Still in the beta testing stages, TranscribeGlass hope to launch publicly this winter.
12. Students in Broomfield, Colorado, delivered art projects and built connections with seniors.
Intergenerational outreach programs helped seniors at The Salvation Army’s Silvercrest residences make meaningful connections with younger generations.
13. In Portland, Oregon, advocates helped domestic violence survivors find safety and healing at The Salvation Army.
Every second, three people in the U.S. become a victim of domestic violence. The Salvation Army provides immediate assistance to victims of domestic violence, putting them on the path to independence in shelters designed for women and children escaping domestic abuse.
14. Guy Fieri joined forces with 38 chefs to raise over $1.5 million for Maui wildfire relief.
Fieri hosted the star-studded fundraiser in Sonoma County, California, following the August wildfires. Guests enjoyed an 18-course meal and an auction, and funds benefitted the Hawaii Restaurant Association and The Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division.
15. The Salvation Army in Alaska helped stranded seasonal workers get home.
Every year, an influx of seasonal workers descends upon Alaska for jobs in fishing or tourism, but when seasonal jobs fall through, and housing with it, many are left stranded. The Salvation Army’s travel assistance fund supported those in need.
16. A group of cyclists fought human trafficking by riding their bikes.
What started as a three-person team cycling from Seattle to San Diego to raise funds that fight human trafficking is now a movement, with dozens of cyclists riding with Pedal the Pacific each summer.
17. In Montana, The Salvation Army helped boost dignity by providing access to showers.
The Salvation Army Hamilton Service Center expanded its services to provide showers and laundry facilities, addressing a pressing need in the community and restoring dignity.
18. The Salvation Army helped break the cycle of poverty with an anti-poverty course in Boise, Idaho.
In Boise, Idaho, a free anti-poverty course offered at The Salvation Army is helped participants gain financial stability and break the cycle of poverty.
19. Instagram-famous dogs delivered 2,000 Christmas gifts to shelter animals.
Dog influencers Ollie and Potato made Christmas possible for animals in need at Trindledown Farms, delivering 2,000 gifts to the dogs, cats, bunnies, horses, alpacas and more who live at the animal rescue.
20. The Tote Project collaborated with The Salvation Army to offer art therapy to trafficking survivors.
Human trafficking survivors from The Salvation Army Seeds of Hope Program collaborated with The Tote Project to heal from their past and define their future. Participants in the workshop created watercolor floral paintings that followed the theme: “They tried to bury us, they didn’t know we were seeds.”
21. An after-school program helped kids build self esteem by writing love letters to themselves.
In Washington, D.C., professional storyteller Vera Oyé Yaa-Anna teaches students, many of whom are impacted by the welfare system, about the power of storytelling. Each month, students write a love letter to themselves in order to nurture creativity and self-knowledge.
22. At its first-ever adaptive retreat, The Salvation Army aimed for delegates of all abilities to find joy.
Attendees from as close as down the street and as far as Brooklyn, New York, gathered for The Salvation Army West’s inaugural Adaptive Retreat, a weekend specifically designed for young adults with disabilities and their chaperones to provide a space for all to feel welcome.
23. An Eras Tour-themed shirt raised thousands for wildlife rehabilitation.
Maine-based Saco River Wildlife Center’s take on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour shirts—updated with cute raccoons rather than the pop star—raised more than $17,000 for the organization. The center provides rehabilitation to wildlife in need.
Do Good:
- You’ve probably seen the red kettles and thrift stores, and while we’re rightfully well known for both…The Salvation Army is so much more than red kettles and thrift stores. So who are we? What do we do? Where? Right this way for Salvation Army 101.
- What cause best fits your personality? Take our quiz and discover where you can make the biggest impact today in the Fight for Good.
Download this page as a PDF
