Monday, April 7, 2014

A new home

It has been more than four years since this blog was started. Since then we have had numerous contributors and thousands of readers! You may have noticed a decrease in posts lately, we have been gearing up for a new and improved website that will now host our blog directly!

All of the posts on this site will remain, we think the stories told here are a great history of how we are Doing the Most Good in Tulsa!  We hope you will join us at our new home: www.salarmytulsa.org - just click on "News & Updates" to see our latest blogs.

Signing off!

~Lindsay

Friday, February 28, 2014

Youth of the Year Banquet Offers a Glimpse of our Good Future

With the headlines each day screaming of juveniles in trouble, declining graduation rates (depending on which study you read) and general malaise about the next generation of leaders, it might be easy to get depressed and worry about the future of our nation. That is unless you took the opportunity to attend the recent Tulsa Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Banquet. It could be also called The Banquet of Hope.

At the banquet last week six youth who are members of the Salvation Army Tulsa Boys & Girls Clubs were honored for their exemplary accomplishments as members of their respective clubs. Four of the six competed for the Youth of the Year title. All are winners.

Established in 1947 nationally and in Tulsa in 1949, Youth of the Year is the Boys & Girls Club’s premier recognition program for Club members, promoting service to Club, community and family, academic success, strong moral character, life goals, poise and public speaking ability.

Neariah Persinger
Sixteen-year-old Neariah Persinger of Broken Arrow was named 2014 Youth of the Year. The New Covenant High School senior is an honors student, holds six Oklahoma state swimming records and racked up an impressive 1,000-plus volunteer hours last year. She also created a 24-hour marathon swimming event that in two years raised over $1,200 for the Wounded Soldier Project. Her goal is to be an Olympic swimmer.

Miana McHenry
First runner-up was West Mabee nominee Miana McHenry, who has been a member since she was nine years old. At 17, Miana is a straight-A senior at Booker T. Washington High School, sings in the all-girl choir and is a member of the Student Council. She serves as the president of the West Mabee Keystone club and volunteers at all West Mabee sporting events and fundraisers. Her volunteer hours for the past year totaled 800.


Devin Duckett
Representing the “Mabee babies” was 17-year-old senior Devin Duckett, as second runner-up. Devin, a 12-year member of the Club, is a senior at Tulsa MET and volunteers at the Club with sports programs and Summer Day Camp. He also plays AAU basketball and wrestles for his school. He plans to attend Oral Roberts University or Oklahoma State University after graduation.

J'Day McIntosh
Third runner-up was Mabee Red Shield nominee J'Day McIntosh. Just 15, and a sophomore at Will Rogers High School, J’Day has been a member of the Mabee Red Shield Boys & Girls Club for eight years. She volunteers at football and basketball games and is a member of the Keystone Club. McIntosh plans on attending Oklahoma State University after graduation and wants to obtain a Master’s degree in Sports Therapy.

The honorees were awarded academic scholarships in the amounts of $4,000, $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.

Also honored at the banquet were 12-year-old Hannah Farias of Sand Springs and 13-year-old Brittany Wilson of Sapulpa. Though too young yet to compete in the Youth of the Year, Hannah attends Clyde Boyd Middle School and is involved in band, horseback riding and softball and Brittany attends Sapulpa Middle School and is a member of Torch Club, Keystone Club and involved in many of the Club’s sporting programs.

Consistent throughout the competition, these youth used the words “family,” “second home,” and “a safe place to be” to describe their Club. That doesn’t just happen. It comes about through dedicated staff and volunteers.

Past B&G Club Advisory Council Chairman Danny Roe was awarded the Clay Satcher Award, named for Retired Major Clay Satcher, founder of the Tulsa clubs. This award honors a member of the community who has shown commitment and support for The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Tulsa. Maj. Satcher was the keynote speaker at the event and personally presented Roe his namesake award.
Major Clay Satcher, Danny Roe, David Litterell (Exec. Dir. Tulsa Boys & Girls Clubs)

Many of us attend countless events, banquets, anniversary dinners and other such celebrations that honor the lifetime or longtime achievements of professionals in our community.

What made this one different, and special, is we were tipping our hats to our future. And, if these youth are any indication at all, it’s a good one.

Thanks to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tulsa.

-DJ






Friday, February 14, 2014

T.D. Williamson + Launch Pad = a winning combination!

This week, Major Taylor, volunteer coordinator Jenny, and case workers Kelly and Tara and myself were honored to attend a lovely volunteer thank you luncheon for the employees of T.D. Williamson. The luncheon was held at The Silo in west Tulsa.


Major Taylor and Jenny shared the impact that T.D. Williamson had on different volunteer areas this past holiday season. TDW employees adopted over 140 Angel Tree angels, volunteered at distribution in Sapulpa and Tulsa, AND were trailblazers for our newest sponsorship opportunity, Launchpad.


Major Taylor presented a certificate of recognition to Annie Tomecheck, Supervisor, Global Community Investment, for the Launch Pad program.




In particular, we want to thank TDW for being the lead sponsor for the Launch Pad program and for being such generous patrons for a family in need.


Launch Pad is a NEW volunteer/sponsorship opportunity designed to bless a homeless family with minor children who live at the Center of Hope and are participating in the Supportive Housing Program (SHP). SHP consists of 16 1-3 bedroom apartments that clients can live in for up to 24 months, with sliding scale rent, while they pursue education, employment and stability for their family. Launch Pad sponsors redecorate and replace basic household goods- including furniture and beds. When clients complete their program and move out to permanent housing, they can take the furniture and goods, ready to set up house in their new place.


TDW's volunteer crew did a fabulous job, from maximizing space to personalizing and thinking of creature comforts. We are really impressed with the end product. Check out these pics of the TDW apartment's "After"-- amazing!









If you or your organization would like more information on sponsoring a Launch Pad apartment, please call Jenny McElyea, our volunteer coordinator, at 918-587-7801. It's an amazing opportuniy to positiviely impact a homeless family on a very basic level.
-Vicki



Monday, January 13, 2014

Volunteers: Making the Impossible, Possible!

Food Packing Day
Impossible. That is what Christmas at The Salvation Army would be without volunteers.

This Christmas more than 1,800 volunteers provided 7,635 hours of service. That many volunteers is the size of a small army. Which is kind of perfect!

Volunteer Davey from Pepsi was up
to his ears in stuff animals!
As the volunteer coordinator, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people who were willing to give of their time just so others could have a Merry Christmas. As I was thanking our volunteers it blew my mind when they started thanking me!

The people who stood on their feet all day in a freezing warehouse were thanking me for this experience? Wow. I thought the cold or exhaustion had finally started getting to them. Then I realized something that everyone at The Salvation Army already knew. We truly have the most amazing volunteers in the world.
Serving a holiday meal.

If you gave any of your time to us this holiday season or even this year, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We couldn’t do it without you!

Thanks, so much,
 - Jenny




Activity              Volunteers             Hours

Bell Ringing *                 304               1520
Angel Tree                      240                 960
Christmas Eve Meal         35                   70
Gift Sorting                    150                 600
Checking Bags                  30                 150
Distribution                     750                3000
Food Sorting*                   75                  375
Thanksgiving                    46                    92
Food Packing                 217                  868

Total Volunteers/Hrs  1847               7635