%PDF-1.7 1 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Outlines 2 0 R /Pages 3 0 R >> endobj 2 0 obj << /Type /Outlines /Count 0 >> endobj 3 0 obj << /Type /Pages /Kids [6 0 R 19 0 R 25 0 R ] /Count 3 /Resources << /ProcSet 4 0 R /Font << /F1 8 0 R /F2 9 0 R /F3 10 0 R /F4 11 0 R /F5 12 0 R /F6 14 0 R >> /XObject << /I1 15 0 R /I2 16 0 R /I3 23 0 R /I4 24 0 R /I5 27 0 R /I6 28 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS1 17 0 R /GS2 18 0 R /GS3 21 0 R /GS4 22 0 R >> >> /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] >> endobj 4 0 obj [/PDF /Text /ImageC ] endobj 5 0 obj << /Producer (dompdf 1.0.2 + CPDF) /CreationDate (D:20241126223222+00'00') /ModDate (D:20241126223222+00'00') >> endobj 6 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 7 0 R >> endobj 7 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 1592 >> stream xWMs6W졇dF-7IIƚf:M I@Iψ3[PԑM v.0 Dt|ɳũd9-J:.p.Z~}rFzS_ɞu`xH}7Z\ҋ %" GF'q8㢝PC'ǏfH[ 7xg<\߾"=z)r8Ȳe{czC(R^MN\0č C<A;ßѽ랫}#+.ZVMO+3 cm V>Pob y"1DײQ-}oMAftGšmMi%JZ%VE"J;]J靴ZY橘ϲ$<_Tu7jF`0m;M?R'뒜>y((;RjB dG]U]JCC2"ZbtЄJ^Q4h4ڇ"9f+Ru!h*`5z'cMe6r!3esx%l]xYZ;q/iuRBJUgJ2 f"|n cs=!}-}(i %Ek}GjJ*@pwJI <԰Skb9Ygd-U3W밅W*5ƖnUA[n.Q rbt2>C5ie[uLS*===UM#\B1_+!=Dy&ħ#P^Fu~} b6j>n(r.]e[p0X+YJP_'=::^Hͨ/4'JQbKX)}>Ngx`F*i]Iվ%>}+ku?u]U4<[3zi˿gz |Ǐhk4d+)\ )g/XKۺ=| 1~' N3[9ңrD]Lp󱣢̢b5h%4_YO%+HJ eldFr'u6P8};Ckdv oXijAcnC_!{`VҖ؉b:Fpty#2Gd 4P8:dh?x؝ fQ?4EqB<`sBJ.]'|ZN)ȃNfqzuHƳ{g3w;p OS {@ endstream endobj 8 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F1 /BaseFont /Helvetica /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 9 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F2 /BaseFont /Times-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 10 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F3 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 11 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F4 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 12 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F5 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Oblique /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 13 0 obj [6 0 R /Fit] endobj 14 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F6 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 15 0 obj << /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 550 /Height 140 /Filter /FlateDecode /DecodeParms << /Predictor 15 /Colors 1 /Columns 550 /BitsPerComponent 8>> /ColorSpace /DeviceGray /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 5329>> stream xqDǯ뺒$ILfff&I335Lf2\3I2L&_3$3I$d+$\W=9y9lLss99P`0 `0 `0 `0 !U_:~u = F~sZŻدns⃪Qg¢G(F[-s͓^ DZ>d>3Dr#\OΉ, ZFwjux<;4Ƀxز#_v?nO<|{7c(b{Oū}w[N e~Hs䎷wwOn<1B.k+%U=eԘ -mCj)t:}c'ϓ*n"-ovkZ?R"V%wʶ7s]eX&eǕq` 1-2e JYHCFOUam 7:(Ԙt_@ހN t{B~ :V@}o#7!z^&zFL:ʤn X<- %"bNWqF c` M'4?cH-V`ǵAF>=#Ěm75dB I&7E5<>-͏їFǿl3M6x]Y&)2 FoΌ N.<t i4wL\^=_|Fo؏IȄ ik$ɄL?{?|tmCޮ=~T&iTevϷ'奔s?EꋄLPY͹箵?@L:Aˤ3y_:9AtA*0qVe- e6g)%a}.qKcI V/xʤzM|\ HSql0;*%+Mذ-闛obebu2iU&lLbtIcxb5^B#8 ޮaʻ _ w>j+L:$"&O;bZ K1 jmU玫ݢ=S/J<WO2'_yUPvp=`"aL5 Nl7"rlQT޼==-I[Se* F'(\`󴯉'{:נnVZ TG6*r$Tyx^LJū.C<3` %ANrxUo"˄ 0&$tO F&bIcW3GG͈ y!{m,LkCI d,(2"@ dR%F1thUL8Rݒ^+v9^?sʯYעDl~Qd" N2sc|ov}=F,3K#vxIvG^,[OM&wI[#,Jޙ\ض;L^fv[LbyYvM#/EI#/Zס$(ڼ ," &LK/IF i-Zx彰픢]MKeR n(PhV'LҸ\f$w/ e]"mɷWO߻˱ KerSPe (ӼGMȈ}X?ʍto7ZKl+81_Y&ǡd uʤ1Vw!sQ"/$zNkw(t)2BWQW"˄OXLp:e‡# וzn2F}qlc5ؾ:WH xLz LP:d# Q>(MRېd2Qt$o~R$YR5,-nޜLr_βehd" 2k1lvO X= eC p+[R=jU!֖}_DޟY2 (*wkZQ>Fl̲soR#^u3hhyTԲt.LtD8sk4z4Rbl@zp4hy0Tn\=.fnő Y/:TC9<@fSI$:QR/bq7DfR/ֻn)Vqd"䳽˄GL;ϝRG顼n&%Sv eFv,L"t}I&N> D73]$e)( ;]XhL`kSzJlcC$<)깍h}dr,1ܝRM뭍eMa $?e3f8΍҈&P(x+JU5{I 3 M- ;7|#G9 !\œ&=xp2,L{-`?OW":4uܚEadv ~9q.VdV%UT@73$@W¯B!ݒaVLH:!opr;gAɀiήpfߙR E/IDO*Luf0}{7mfyDxT.g)w5RvHx#Z]&M$ gZUTt+lZqZ_;a&JaG,-JLJDFIcV|:I3nB&;N0Lna=Y_Gl,p5,,kc EKgd;2vt7selT9˸sX޲.6r<1!| L0lTMS1?Xsf cq )KSgBB&׭x. v c@^Yk΀v],E[ɾ QhYyXXC2)g/J@su1ScL, ?C[{V2i͛!סӠ&> 6lu>4Ƕʤ|=12鱧l{^:a/Y%~].26G: p^CZ V&Vedҟ?RrX7d#I]ՕuL1 ?_ /12IEh ̴b<ӯ^e _ϝ䰻^]vy> /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 873>> stream x1j08-K/)],) &gi+:U̲\"9H!@"9H!@"9H!@eY.Z[p_E{QHKV[/`j%ʒcP,SX4W{7urd5ɱPr:-ֆʇX$$zfZpClbw7z{[]qGlwlGlZiM,ߺ7x}w` L9=3zpWL9 j)ۓB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$e]k` B$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$/؋ endstream endobj 17 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 0.3 >> endobj 18 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 0.3 >> endobj 19 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 20 0 R >> endobj 20 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 2000 >> stream xXr6}WV!n?9NJ7RT0$D4j̼XiI>nːݍsN7*Vt9ǿ?^ZP<Wxmbο)/9]~[U9 "(kl5I%~chHRm<mUoT;]_?`:oR $]4N`F]2 ՟|ftw(O{cԊI:-JIR!nLd{G7,Is<'ET+je ~uPL " [(1h:j-"Fb.4`UZr&k}M,6z3OQJN I,%F cJhٞOҕÂcH{1F*QARl0=]?ZE%#UkEǺ>.km9V@2>5U -, XSxQ7Hd磓5Y&6SCImIidu (}ksm%.5YQc>l s5xiFVȖs~YQx*e-\ĀdeifTK#nB/놋$bIj8>Ź;0_,Y L,2'IK޶{DclQ>iv560SAr'NnLd(RO4=c|*CB#nS,*`\$gar7%Xy 0%C`*>(S E uɝ҄p\]*cAPջäB+U Ɔ:Hۃ*F"kTOf$#ZbBF*X0&5R.,'l]']!pC_ ޟ/"+z7vgV"o\I#~DF Rd/! о{ho/vbˊm ;{s8vݰ+2c?vx_y,"#ZE#NPW6ʅ* cؼZk S~ 0b%g|^TN;wʩ ZuHJ fx47qTVPV,`SwRmrZ ϸF#J&<38NBmJg ~0O&/ an5XR #g=-,RuD՝*_q"[bXRtW?=SlZV0V&ο>?/şJf]-ͳݒ,0霍VRcqAWEW.[Os >>̽g]g)Sr)EO endstream endobj 21 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 1 >> endobj 22 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 1 >> endobj 23 0 obj << /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 550 /Height 140 /Filter /FlateDecode /DecodeParms << /Predictor 15 /Colors 1 /Columns 550 /BitsPerComponent 8>> /ColorSpace /DeviceGray /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 5329>> stream xqDǯ뺒$ILfff&I335Lf2\3I2L&_3$3I$d+$\W=9y9lLss99P`0 `0 `0 `0 !U_:~u = F~sZŻدns⃪Qg¢G(F[-s͓^ DZ>d>3Dr#\OΉ, ZFwjux<;4Ƀxز#_v?nO<|{7c(b{Oū}w[N e~Hs䎷wwOn<1B.k+%U=eԘ -mCj)t:}c'ϓ*n"-ovkZ?R"V%wʶ7s]eX&eǕq` 1-2e JYHCFOUam 7:(Ԙt_@ހN t{B~ :V@}o#7!z^&zFL:ʤn X<- %"bNWqF c` M'4?cH-V`ǵAF>=#Ěm75dB I&7E5<>-͏їFǿl3M6x]Y&)2 FoΌ N.<t i4wL\^=_|Fo؏IȄ ik$ɄL?{?|tmCޮ=~T&iTevϷ'奔s?EꋄLPY͹箵?@L:Aˤ3y_:9AtA*0qVe- e6g)%a}.qKcI V/xʤzM|\ HSql0;*%+Mذ-闛obebu2iU&lLbtIcxb5^B#8 ޮaʻ _ w>j+L:$"&O;bZ K1 jmU玫ݢ=S/J<WO2'_yUPvp=`"aL5 Nl7"rlQT޼==-I[Se* F'(\`󴯉'{:נnVZ TG6*r$Tyx^LJū.C<3` %ANrxUo"˄ 0&$tO F&bIcW3GG͈ y!{m,LkCI d,(2"@ dR%F1thUL8Rݒ^+v9^?sʯYעDl~Qd" N2sc|ov}=F,3K#vxIvG^,[OM&wI[#,Jޙ\ض;L^fv[LbyYvM#/EI#/Zס$(ڼ ," &LK/IF i-Zx彰픢]MKeR n(PhV'LҸ\f$w/ e]"mɷWO߻˱ KerSPe (ӼGMȈ}X?ʍto7ZKl+81_Y&ǡd uʤ1Vw!sQ"/$zNkw(t)2BWQW"˄OXLp:e‡# וzn2F}qlc5ؾ:WH xLz LP:d# Q>(MRېd2Qt$o~R$YR5,-nޜLr_βehd" 2k1lvO X= eC p+[R=jU!֖}_DޟY2 (*wkZQ>Fl̲soR#^u3hhyTԲt.LtD8sk4z4Rbl@zp4hy0Tn\=.fnő Y/:TC9<@fSI$:QR/bq7DfR/ֻn)Vqd"䳽˄GL;ϝRG顼n&%Sv eFv,L"t}I&N> D73]$e)( ;]XhL`kSzJlcC$<)깍h}dr,1ܝRM뭍eMa $?e3f8΍҈&P(x+JU5{I 3 M- ;7|#G9 !\œ&=xp2,L{-`?OW":4uܚEadv ~9q.VdV%UT@73$@W¯B!ݒaVLH:!opr;gAɀiήpfߙR E/IDO*Luf0}{7mfyDxT.g)w5RvHx#Z]&M$ gZUTt+lZqZ_;a&JaG,-JLJDFIcV|:I3nB&;N0Lna=Y_Gl,p5,,kc EKgd;2vt7selT9˸sX޲.6r<1!| L0lTMS1?Xsf cq )KSgBB&׭x. v c@^Yk΀v],E[ɾ QhYyXXC2)g/J@su1ScL, ?C[{V2i͛!סӠ&> 6lu>4Ƕʤ|=12鱧l{^:a/Y%~].26G: p^CZ V&Vedҟ?RrX7d#I]ՕuL1 ?_ /12IEh ̴b<ӯ^e _ϝ䰻^]vy> /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 873>> stream x1j08-K/)],) &gi+:U̲\"9H!@"9H!@"9H!@eY.Z[p_E{QHKV[/`j%ʒcP,SX4W{7urd5ɱPr:-ֆʇX$$zfZpClbw7z{[]qGlwlGlZiM,ߺ7x}w` L9=3zpWL9 j)ۓB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$e]k` B$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$/؋ endstream endobj 25 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 26 0 R >> endobj 26 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 1223 >> stream xVM4ϯhnPq@ ,3U(ݎcKF ?*.Or&J{2Dz,~rQҁ2͛v.\ᚉ,]}@EoVy&5=tMN\djvzw[[teeGrN=QH1`k@^ULQ]5oQyc2*ท54vp_b҇Q+cəVlluQk2I-[֞kkdMoL [)ǂ~i 써ALfd )0F,WY !D^Ǯ&'3  j hVdfÝ3!eS TKMJqSvA"IYbRλ=[Hz$(kzrCȂܲ)QBU2H.*OɦIɐ">IP{(٪Ֆe V>'wxW,7"[T!1 G5)AX' -.nt0zu2X )77eRft;X3HR)8 sB"RckWFkI(KAQ-:{v^)ǐRCO5$}4 4 yQu`Zvc/H6 Gi1ӍU=zJKxNYJ<92;0H),ʕ˔ G6, }K1%=0c:c:z\oQT.qrlo3TDK] rQ%yK^=jCy4/l{JYբ!j'::U3h]N؄Zi RP\䛔ض\$XLaXԌz]A8xϝb"+($=rl~~,ގ1X/L%US+ w;c|0wyg߯O@|^2I%*04MYqe8~8T҂^"ab[6p+trs*fspQ=,O`b m}永)ΠU>& endstream endobj 27 0 obj << /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 550 /Height 140 /Filter /FlateDecode /DecodeParms << /Predictor 15 /Colors 1 /Columns 550 /BitsPerComponent 8>> /ColorSpace /DeviceGray /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 5329>> stream xqDǯ뺒$ILfff&I335Lf2\3I2L&_3$3I$d+$\W=9y9lLss99P`0 `0 `0 `0 !U_:~u = F~sZŻدns⃪Qg¢G(F[-s͓^ DZ>d>3Dr#\OΉ, ZFwjux<;4Ƀxز#_v?nO<|{7c(b{Oū}w[N e~Hs䎷wwOn<1B.k+%U=eԘ -mCj)t:}c'ϓ*n"-ovkZ?R"V%wʶ7s]eX&eǕq` 1-2e JYHCFOUam 7:(Ԙt_@ހN t{B~ :V@}o#7!z^&zFL:ʤn X<- %"bNWqF c` M'4?cH-V`ǵAF>=#Ěm75dB I&7E5<>-͏їFǿl3M6x]Y&)2 FoΌ N.<t i4wL\^=_|Fo؏IȄ ik$ɄL?{?|tmCޮ=~T&iTevϷ'奔s?EꋄLPY͹箵?@L:Aˤ3y_:9AtA*0qVe- e6g)%a}.qKcI V/xʤzM|\ HSql0;*%+Mذ-闛obebu2iU&lLbtIcxb5^B#8 ޮaʻ _ w>j+L:$"&O;bZ K1 jmU玫ݢ=S/J<WO2'_yUPvp=`"aL5 Nl7"rlQT޼==-I[Se* F'(\`󴯉'{:נnVZ TG6*r$Tyx^LJū.C<3` %ANrxUo"˄ 0&$tO F&bIcW3GG͈ y!{m,LkCI d,(2"@ dR%F1thUL8Rݒ^+v9^?sʯYעDl~Qd" N2sc|ov}=F,3K#vxIvG^,[OM&wI[#,Jޙ\ض;L^fv[LbyYvM#/EI#/Zס$(ڼ ," &LK/IF i-Zx彰픢]MKeR n(PhV'LҸ\f$w/ e]"mɷWO߻˱ KerSPe (ӼGMȈ}X?ʍto7ZKl+81_Y&ǡd uʤ1Vw!sQ"/$zNkw(t)2BWQW"˄OXLp:e‡# וzn2F}qlc5ؾ:WH xLz LP:d# Q>(MRېd2Qt$o~R$YR5,-nޜLr_βehd" 2k1lvO X= eC p+[R=jU!֖}_DޟY2 (*wkZQ>Fl̲soR#^u3hhyTԲt.LtD8sk4z4Rbl@zp4hy0Tn\=.fnő Y/:TC9<@fSI$:QR/bq7DfR/ֻn)Vqd"䳽˄GL;ϝRG顼n&%Sv eFv,L"t}I&N> D73]$e)( ;]XhL`kSzJlcC$<)깍h}dr,1ܝRM뭍eMa $?e3f8΍҈&P(x+JU5{I 3 M- ;7|#G9 !\œ&=xp2,L{-`?OW":4uܚEadv ~9q.VdV%UT@73$@W¯B!ݒaVLH:!opr;gAɀiήpfߙR E/IDO*Luf0}{7mfyDxT.g)w5RvHx#Z]&M$ gZUTt+lZqZ_;a&JaG,-JLJDFIcV|:I3nB&;N0Lna=Y_Gl,p5,,kc EKgd;2vt7selT9˸sX޲.6r<1!| L0lTMS1?Xsf cq )KSgBB&׭x. v c@^Yk΀v],E[ɾ QhYyXXC2)g/J@su1ScL, ?C[{V2i͛!סӠ&> 6lu>4Ƕʤ|=12鱧l{^:a/Y%~].26G: p^CZ V&Vedҟ?RrX7d#I]ՕuL1 ?_ /12IEh ̴b<ӯ^e _ϝ䰻^]vy> /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 873>> stream x1j08-K/)],) &gi+:U̲\"9H!@"9H!@"9H!@eY.Z[p_E{QHKV[/`j%ʒcP,SX4W{7urd5ɱPr:-ֆʇX$$zfZpClbw7z{[]qGlwlGlZiM,ߺ7x}w` L9=3zpWL9 j)ۓB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$e]k` B$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$/؋ endstream endobj xref 0 29 0000000000 65535 f 0000000009 00000 n 0000000074 00000 n 0000000120 00000 n 0000000490 00000 n 0000000527 00000 n 0000000676 00000 n 0000000779 00000 n 0000002444 00000 n 0000002551 00000 n 0000002659 00000 n 0000002769 00000 n 0000002882 00000 n 0000002998 00000 n 0000003027 00000 n 0000003137 00000 n 0000008712 00000 n 0000009843 00000 n 0000009902 00000 n 0000009961 00000 n 0000010066 00000 n 0000012140 00000 n 0000012197 00000 n 0000012254 00000 n 0000017829 00000 n 0000018960 00000 n 0000019065 00000 n 0000020362 00000 n 0000025937 00000 n trailer << /Size 29 /Root 1 0 R /Info 5 0 R /ID[<8af9de8ff43794a3db424c491ebed3fe><8af9de8ff43794a3db424c491ebed3fe>] >> startxref 27068 %%EOF "A gift that will give and give" | Caring Magazine

Vol. #28

Grace Uncovered

Read Issue

Latest Impact StoriesView All

Popular Topics

PopularView All

“A gift that will give and give”

October 9, 2009
4 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
Listen to this article

Salem Kroc opens to crowds, fanfare.

by Sue Schumann Warner –

“This will change our community,” said Salem Mayor Janet Taylor as she addressed the crowd gathered under a huge white tent for the Kroc Center’s dedication ceremony. “Young people will have the opportunity to do things they’ve never done. This is a gift that will give and give, long after we’re all gone.”

The ceremony was one the events held during four days of celebrations officially opening The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. And the community could not have been happier—more than 3,600 became members in the first few days, 400 of whom are low-income families receiving scholarships.

Western Territorial Leaders Commissioners Philip and Patricia Swyers and Cascade Divisional Leaders Majors Donald and Arvilla Hostetler joined Executive Director Major Donna Ames and Marion/Polk County Coordinator Major Jerry Ames in the weekend’s events.

Major Brian Saunders, with son Holden, participated as well. Saunders and his wife, Major Leticia Saunders, were Salem Citadel Corps officers when the application for a Kroc Center was submitted. Commissioners Kenneth and Jolene Hodder (then majors) were divisional leaders.

The territorial youth band, under the leadership of Territorial Bandmaster Neil Smith, provided music throughout the weekend.

A star celebration
Over 200 major donors—those giving $10,000 or more—and VIPs enjoyed a festive “kick-off” evening with dinner and tours on Thursday. Master of Ceremonies Dick Withnell, who led the Kroc fundraising campaign, thanked those who contributed so generously. “The effort here is the gold standard,” he stated. In all, the community raised $10.2 million.

A video presentation chronicling the center’s growth included comments from community representatives. Mayor Lore Christopher, City of Keizer, stated, “This is where we’ll make a place for our kids to envision and imagine what will happen here in the years to come; over 1,000 Keizer kids live within one mile of the center.”

Needs are great in this area: 63 percent of Salem/Keizer children live below the poverty line and Salem’s Northgate neighborhood, where the center is located, contains the highest density of low-income population in Oregon.

It’s about the people
Majors Donna and Jerry Ames welcomed guests—over 800 donors, volunteers, and Salvationists— at Friday’s dedication ceremony, generating laughter as they went through a humorous “to do” list for the center’s opening, and concluding on a somber note: “this place is about the people who will come day in and day out…who will know this is a place for them, and will be welcomed here…who will have their lives changed for the better.”

Joan Kroc’s daughter, Linda Wendfeldt, spoke of her mother’s childhood in Minnesota during the Depression; she recalled that Joan’s father donated to The Salvation Army even in those difficult times.

“My mother had a vision that children would learn, play, grow in self-esteem and gain hope [at the Kroc Centers]—and also have fun! Hope was key for her,” she stated. “You have collaborated with my Mom and with God so this place could exist,” she said, with tears in her eyes.

Calling the center “a great gift to serve people,” Swyers dedicated the facility to the glory of God. Commissioner Pat Swyers gave a prayer of dedication.

Let’s Krock ’n Roll
Saturday’s “Krock ’n Roll” grand opening was a day like no other—school busses shuttled people back and forth from parking at the nearby fair grounds, and over 200 volunteers and employees smiled unfailingly as they answered questions, directed visitors, signed-up members, and explained the Kroc Center’s programs and spiritual opportunities to many of the 7,000 who came.

Starting with the ribbon cutting—in this case a volleyball net—and ending with the territorial youth band’s evening concert, it was a grand beginning for the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center.

Guests explored the entire facility, from the two pools—where Olympic swimmer Mike Mintenko and Olympic swimmer gold medalist Lindsay Benko spoke and performed an exhibition, the gym, exercise equipment and rock-climbing wall to the chapel/theater, library and game room. Outdoors, a dunking booth, bowling alley, trackless train, face painting and more kept young and old entertained. Musical groups performed in the amphitheater; free hot dogs, snow cones, cotton candy, fruit salad and water ensured no one went hungry.

A morning of worship
Highlighting the Army’s spiritual mission, Sunday morning’s worship service was filled with “firsts” for the Salem Kroc Corps: four junior soldiers, four senior soldiers, and one adherent were enrolled, and little Jamil Shadrick was dedicated.

Swyers gave the message, speaking on God’s holiness. “What do we want to see out of this place?” he asked. “God would say, people who are chosen, purchased, and redeemed, so their life is clean in God’s sight.”

Over 350 attended the service; 80 were first-time visitors. In his benediction, Envoy Dan Reichman called the Kroc Center “A little community with big dreams” and prayed for the building, the corps, and those who were present for the first time.

New beginnings
Monday morning, as the center opened its doors for business, changes were underway for Majors Jerry and Donna Ames. A noontime retirement service marked their transition from active Salvation Army officers to retired officers; after the service, they resumed their duties at the Kroc—now as employees—not skipping a beat.

Laughter and splashing echoed from the swimming pools, basketballs swished through hoops, and newcomers signed up for membership, just as if the center had been open for days.

“One parent told me their child went down the slide 14 times and it was hard to leave the pool because they were having so much fun,” said Development Director Patricia Cuff-Smith. “This is truly a place that welcomes everyone and everyone feels welcome!”

Download this page as a PDF

You May Also Like