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On behalf of The Salvation Army, please
accept our sincere appreciation for your support. Our purpose
is to apply locally the principles and work that The Salvation
Army has been doing world-wide for over 140 years.
The Salvation Army New Braunfels Service
Center has served Comal County for 15 years. Dedicated staff,
volunteers and supporters like you have enabled us to provide
relief for persons in crisis and emergency situations. We also
hope to restore dignity, self-esteem, productivity and godliness
to those in need.
The services we provide are funded by
United Way, individuals, businesses, civic organizations and our
Advisory Council members.
Thank you for helping us to do the most
good.
The Salvation Army
New Braunfels Service Center
Many made a difference when hurricanes hit
By Leigh Jones
The Herald-Zeitung
Published April 27, 2006
 New
Braunfels is home to hundreds of individuals who regularly give
up their time, money and energy for humanitarian efforts close
to home and halfway around the world.
Many of them make their contributions without any recognition
or reward, motivated by nothing more than a call to do the right
thing. For the last 15 years, the Herald-Zeitung has presented
awards to these unsung heroes, who are nominated by their fellow
New Braunfelsers, and honored one public servant with a Citizen
of the Year award.
But during 2005, the people who deserved recognition for their
efforts to help Hurricane Katrina victims were too numerous to
count. The overwhelming citywide relief effort inspired the newspaper’s
staff to honor the leaders and members of nine local organizations
that led the assistance initiatives — just a small token
of gratitude for acts of kindness that can never truly be repaid.
When people whose lives had been devastated by the storms began
arriving in town last September, no one who really knew New Braunfels
was surprised at how many residents stepped forward to offer assistance.
They cooked meals, collected donations, offered comfort, even
opened their homes to the New Orleans-area residents who had lost
everything.
During a recognition ceremony Wednesday, Publisher Doug Toney
read story after story of selfless service to an audience of the
organizations’ members who nodded at each detail, no doubt
remembering the wave of need that followed the life-altering storm.
“It’s a privilege to present these,” Toney said.
“It’s all of you who make this such a great place to
live. Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do.”
The Rev. Chuck DeHaven, from St. Paul Lutheran Church and Rebounds,
was choked with emotion as he stepped off the stage.
“We are so gifted with so many groups who work together
to help in situations like these,” he said. “We are
a welcoming community all through the year, so it was natural
for people who had heard about us to come here when they needed
help.”
Oakwood Baptist Church Associate Pastor Brett Mosher agreed,
saying he was struck by the amount of teamwork demonstrated throughout
the relief effort.
“The people at our church worked together, but our church
also worked with other churches in town,” he said. “All
of this just makes me realize that when we work as a team, we
can get things done.”
New Braunfels Salvation Army Center Manager
Judy Baker, who helped 5,000 people by the time the crisis was
over, said she came away from the massive aid efforts with a smile
on her face.
“It’s amazing to know we were able to make such a difference
in people’s lives,” she said. “It makes us feel
good to know we were able to show people someone cared about them.”
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