|
Since 1994, The Salvation Army
women’s and children’s shelter in
Orlando, Fla., has given over 1,000
families a safe place to get back on
their feet and onto the path of self sustainability. For the last six years it has received stalwart support from the Orlando Women’s Auxiliary.
“This organization was founded as a
means for very active women to channel their energies and resources to support
the good work this shelter does day in and day out,” said Major Thelma Birmingham,
founder of the Orlando auxiliary. The women’s auxiliary has become the “guardian” of the women’s and children’s shelter, donating hundreds of
things to improve the quality of life within its walls, including new beds and mattresses, dining room tables and chairs, new carpet throughout the facility, a security system to protect the women and families and recently a new air-conditioning system when the previous one had failed.
“I can only imagine how difficult it is for any child to be thrust into this situation, by no fault of their own,” said Major Amy Kelly, Orlando Area
Command’s director of women’s ministries. “What our women’s auxiliary does is make sure that life here
is as normal and comfortable as it possibly can be.”
“Normal” means providing all the things a child would have in the home, like “trick-or-treating” on Halloween, baskets for Easter and a visit from Santa
Claus before his night of work around Christmas. The auxiliary also organizes events such as pizza parties and an annual back-to-school party, where children receive new clothing, shoes and the supplies they need to for school. “It’s amazing the things a person can take for granted, that these children are so thankful for,” Thelma Birmingham said. “Having a pizza delivered is one of those things that these children will just be giddy about.”
The compassion of the women does not end with the children – the auxiliary also provides quarterly full makeovers for the women in the shelter through local high-end boutique Salon Ciseaux to increase their confidence and self-esteem, a drive for personal care products for the women and families and the annual “Spring Fling Fashion Show,” to support shelter operations.
“The Spring Fling Fashion Show has been an
annual social event and is in its sixth year,” said Diane
Holm, auxiliary vice-president and one of the charter
members of the auxiliary. “It has raised over $100,000
that goes directly to helping the women and children
who find themselves in this unfortunate situation.”
The power behind a person’s words – whether oral or written – is inarguable.
What would the American Revolution have been without Patrick Henry declaring, “Give
me liberty or give me death”? Sir Francis Bacon
spoke about the influence literature has on its readers: “If I might control the literature of a household, I would guarantee the well-being of
the church and state.”
And who can deny the influence of one Southern pastor during the American civil rights movement?
The famous “I Have a Dream” speech of Martin Luther King, Jr. memorializes him as
one of the greatest orators in U.S. history.
Above all, words written by Jesus’ biographers – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – carry the greatest weight of all time.
Inspired by the words on the pages of his Bible, the Founder of The Salvation Army inscribed
his own legacy on countless generations of Salvationists:
“While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight. While little children go hungry, as they
do now, I’ll fight. While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, I’ll fight. While there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight. I’ll fight to the very end!”
Without Salvationist meetings where words of truth were proclaimed, many unbelievers
may not have surrendered to salvation; adherents may not have enrolled as soldiers; soldiers
would scarce have committed to officership; and much of the world may not have found the
source of true hope.
|