100 years: The evolution of Salvation Army training in the West
By Clinton Trimmer, Captain– The Western Territory’s College for Officer Training came into being 100 years ago, in 1920, coinciding with the creation of the territory itself. Over the next century, much about training changed, but the essential goal remained the
West’s Social Services Director talks responding to need and rescuing Christmas
By Christin Thieme - Consider for a moment that you lost your job at the start of this global pandemic. You had a good job. Last New Year’s Eve you never could have expected to be unemployed. But now you are.
New Rady Residence helps keep homeless families together in San Diego
By Pamela Davis– Twenty-six years old and living on the street with her two baby boys, Ronisha was depressed and exhausted, but she kept a brave face for her babies. For a year, they had been going from homeless shelter to
West turns to data for planning kettle locations
By Hillary Jackson– It’s no secret COVID-19 has altered our shopping habits. How often do we opt for delivery instead of going to the store? Or if we go to the store, select curbside service to avoid going inside? These changes
Hope Center aims to bring permanent supportive housing, client-choice pantry to Pasadena
Early one morning Kimberly Darian was almost to The Salvation Army Pasadena Tabernacle Corps to tell Corps Officer Captain Terry Masango she couldn’t take on the Hope Center capital campaign co-chair role she’d accepted— when what she saw gave her
New park aims to bring community, outdoors to Medford’s Hope House
Partnership revitalizes vacant lot. By Hillary Jackson - The three-acre lot next to The Salvation Army’s Hope House in Medford, Oregon, sat empty for years and was, by some accounts, an eyesore. A couple years ago, an advisory board member called
Partnership allows Salvation Army to lease underutilized ARC warehouses
Collaboration with startup creates new revenue source for West’s Adult Rehabilitation Centers. By Vivian Lopez - The Salvation Army Western Territory partnered with Warehouse Exchange—an online warehouse space leasing platform—earlier this year to lease out underused space at its Adult Rehabilitation Center
Napa Culinary Training Program adapts, responds to COVID-19, wildfires
The team prepares more than 1,200 meals a day. By Caitlin Johnston - The white board keeps order. Every morning when Chef Paul Fields enters the dining room of the Napa Valley Culinary Training Program, he looks to the large board to get
Riley witnesses frontlines of Oregon wildfires
A couple who had just moved from Arizona to Oregon a couple weeks ago pulled up a photo on their phone taken from their new home. Across the street were the flames. The blackened area came too close for comfort—but
Western Territory welcomes Messengers of Reconciliation in online event
Video greetings from Salvationists across the Western Territory kicked off the first-ever virtual Welcome of Cadets event Sept. 12 to officially welcome the Messengers of Reconciliation Session. The virtual event broadcast from the College for Officer Training at Crestmont in
Rileys installed as Western territorial leaders
By Karen Gleason– Commissioners Douglas and Colleen Riley were publicly installed as Western Territorial Commander and President of Women’s Ministries, respectively, during the online Welcome of Cadets event Sept. 12 at the College for Officer Training at Crestmont in Rancho Palos
New Dignity Health grant allows Salvation Army street level team to expand to California
By Kristin Marguerite Doidge - When it comes to solving homelessness, trust can lead to truly life-changing outcomes. That’s been the case with the Street Level homeless outreach initiative in Seattle. And it’s been so effective since launching in 2019 that