Major Abe Tamayo presented at this week's meeting, sharing with us his personal accounts of his work at the Salvation Army and his lifelong connection with the Kiwanis Club. 

The Major gave us a quick history of the Salvation Army and the changes he’s making at our area shelter. Through upcoming policy changes, the Salvation Army hopes to remove some of the barriers that prevent those in need from receiving their services. Our local Salvation Army has been offering services for well over a hundred years, houses 62 individuals, and is one of the only shelters in town that offers living arrangements to entire families (husband, wife, and kids all together).

  He noted that their Thrift Store is not making a profit but does provide a needed service by offering affordable clothing and household items to the homeless, victims of fire, and to the community as a whole.  He thanked the Kiwanis Club of St. Joseph for raising over $2800 during the 2015 bell ringing season. 

 Major Tamayo shared a touching story from his childhood. His Dad was a migrant worker in Lima, Ohio and his family lived in poverty-- with eight children in the household, it was difficult for his parents to make ends meet.  Just before Christmas, a man came to their home and his mom instructed the Major to grab his winter coat and go with the man. Their visitor put them in a shiny new car. The major explained how he noticed a yellow "K" sticker on the windshield of the car and asked the man what the emblem meant. The man said he was from the Kiwanis Club, and that he was there to help support his family for the holidays.  When asked what they were doing and where they were going, the man took out a $100 bill (quite a lot of money in the '60s) and said that they were going to go shopping for gifts for their whole family!

He expressed his thanks to service clubs like the Kiwanis Club and the support we provide to our communities. He has found a passion for empowering those in need through his work at the Salvation Army.  We are very appreciative that Major Abe Tamayo came to share his story and we hope to help  the Salvation Army raise money again this year through our bell-ringing.