The Hope Brigade

An update on The Salvation Army's congregate programs and services across Massachusetts

On we ask you to join us to pray for everyone who is in need, struggling with poverty, hunger, and desperation. Today and everyday, we are reminded to extend our heart to God and our hand to man.

"For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come..." Song of Solomon 2:11-12
Happy first day of Spring!

What a pleasure to know this lovely lady for 17+ years. She has always been generous and kind and smart and independent and feisty... and today was honored by the mayor as the oldest resident in Fitchburg! The Salvation Army is blessed to have her faith in our mission to change lives.

Honored to be a part of The Salvation Army formally receiving a very generous gift from the estate of Peg Tuitt's (pictured) father, Aubrey.

It takes an Army to combat disaster. Be a part of the relief by donating to helpsalvationarmy.org:
https://youtu.be/ZYaXGPNJ3r0

When Disaster Strikes - The Salvation Army Responds to the 2017 Hurricanes The Salvation Army is serving those in need throughout much of Florida and Texas. They are also serving many of the Caribbean islands including Puerto Rico, ...

The Salvation Army International - News Feature: The President, the Entrepreneur and The Salvation Army Former Finnish President Tarja Halonen and Peter Vesterbacka have been photographed in evocative, monochromatic ‘what if?’ portraits

Visited our friends at the Planned Giving Group of New England. There was a special discussion on estate planning. The lecture was called "Cross-Border Estate Planning in U.S. Philanthropy." In the lecture guest speaker Ian Weinstock describes how "U.S. taxation of non-U.S. persons is different from taxation of U.S. persons."

Rocco (pictured left) met The Salvation Army as a 19 year old on the front lines in WWII. As he remembers, his platoon rounded a group of rocks sure they would encounter the enemy and instead found a group of "Sallies" making donuts and coffee.

I met Rocco in his 70s, when he had made the decision to give back to The Salvation Army through our Charitable Gift Annuity program. In a lovely Christmas card he sent me this year, he reminded me he's now "closing in on 91 years young" and included this picture of himself shaking hands with our former Divisional Commander, Lt. Col. Fred Van Brunt at one of the events at our Camp Wonderland. "I miss those Sharon picnics," he says.

He wrote that "old soldiers never die, we just fade away", but the reality is that Rocco's legacy will survive vibrantly in the lives changed by his generous gifts.