Major Roy Langer of the Salvation Army was introduced to us and he delivered a very informative and inspiring presentation on the work that the Salvation Army delivers here in Calgary.

Major Langer has been posted here at the Salvation Army for less than two months. His background of over 30 years with the Salvation Army has taken him coast to coast in Canada in roles from pastor to administrator.

Most recently, he has been involved in leading disaster response support which has taken him to such sites as Ground Zero, Katrina, and, very recently, Slave Lake, where he headed up the overall disaster relief services. As well, he was chaplain to the security forces at the Olympics, and the G8 and G20 meetings. Major Langer is also a past Rotarian.

The Salvation Army was founded by William Booth in London, England, in 1865 as a Christian faith-based organization to help the poor. Today, that mission remains the same, to assist those in time of need and trouble.

In Canada annually, they serve over 1.5 million people through 450 ministry units and 311 churches. Through this they meet the human needs, or at least try, based on the funding they can secure.

They provide these services in a variety of ways, including the Agape Hospice in Kensington, which they own and operate, and provide to those in need at this time, and have served over 3500 people since opening the hospice.

The Jackson Williams senior home provides our aging population who do not have a place to stay and partake in life, while the Centre of Hope of 9th Avenue SE provides a variety of services from drop-in centre, short and developmental stays (355 beds), emergency and transitional; employment and education services, and more. Each month, almost 600 people go though the education program with a 50% permanent full-time job success ratio, which is fantastic. They provide recovery services, as well as a segregated women's residence and services.

Major Langer talked about their Healthy Family Programming, which provides counselling services, the teaching of parenting skills to those that need it, going into homes to help where needed, and much more. Over 2000 families were served last year! The Pregnant and Parenting Resource Centre served over 500 families last year, and saw an increase in service needs by 40% from 2009 to 2010.

The Salvation Army also provides other services such as tax assistance to those who need it, the Coats for Kids program, the Work Boot program, the Kids Back Pack program (serving over 1000 kids last year) and infant needs with over 1200 packs of diapers and 700+ cans of formula for babies.

The Christmas program that our club supports through a donation and our work at the Kettles will help over 2700 families and over 6400 children and teens. The Pine Lake Camp ensures less than able children still get the opportunity to attend summer camp. And the community churches serve the spiritual needs of their members and the community at large.

As Major Langer noted, they are not a missionary service. The work they do is in the name of Jesus Christ, but they do not force their beliefs or ministry on their clients, but rather have it available to them if they want, or need, it.

Major Langer finished off by noting that all they do here in Calgary would not be possible without the volunteers from the community. Volunteers are the mainstay of their program, be they in a hospice providing comfort, serving meals or manning kettles. Volunteers are essential, and he thanked us for our gift and our volunteer services.

Chuck Morrison thanked Major Langer and presented him with a Boltman.

reported by Brent Barootes