Katrina worker's business
savvy helps her help fellow survivors
By Major Frank Duracher
Southern Spirit
staff
Gail Sherman has extensive experience in marketing,
particularly as manager at several retail stores in the Gentilly area of
pre-Katrina New Orleans. That experience qualified her to come to work at The
Salvation Army, and enabled her to deal with the most difficult challenge in
her life thus far, she said.
Her home was also in the
Gentilly area, but everything was lost in the extensive flooding following the
storm. With no home and no job, Sherman and her family were among thousands
scattered across the country. She and husband Terry ended up in Colorado
Springs, Colo.
"When we evacuated, we literally left
with nothing," Sherman said. "I grabbed a pair of shoes, but only
realized after we'd left that the shoes didn't even match!"
She applied for a job at The Salvation Army in Colorado Springs as
a Katrina Aid Today caseworker. Major Don Gilger hired her, and her personal
restoration began because of the positive connection she felt working at the
Army from the first day. Her exile from her beloved New Orleans lasted for many
months, extending well into the latter half of 2006.
"He was such a blessing to me because he knew when I needed
prayer," Sherman said of Major Gilger, the Colorado Springs corps officer.
"And that was often because my thoughts were at home in New Orleans, as
well as a deep concern for my family's future."
Sherman loved working with other Katrina-displaced families
staying in Colorado Springs. It helped her cope with her own concerns. Plus,
her expertise in dealing with customers while she was in the retail business
proved to be a great advantage.
"I've been in
retail for most of my life, and as manager I'd always have to deal with
angry customers - never the happy customers!" she said with a laugh.
"It seemed easier for me to deal with families who were angry or scared
because Katrina had hurt them so badly."
Finally able
to return to New Orleans, it was difficult for her to leave Colorado - but she
believed that God had still more in store for her. The family is rebuilding
their home in their old neighborhood, and Sherman was interviewed by the
Army's LTR (Long Term Recovery) program manager for Louisiana, Dorothy
Newell. Sherman began work as KAT volunteer resource coordinator at the New
Orleans Area Command.
"I knew in my heart that
everything had changed forever," Sherman said of her return to New
Orleans. "But my work at The Salvation Army both here in New Orleans and
in Colorado Springs helped me in dealing with my own personal tragedy because
of Hurricane Katrina.
"Now I want to continue to help others
rebuild their lives as well."
What is
the most good?
By now, every command in the territory will have
stored its kettles, tripods, aprons and bells and begun to clean out the area
where toys and other Christmas gifts were distributed. The bookkeepers across
the territory will be busy finalizing kettle income against expenditures and
making their reports to DHQ and THQ respectively. 
How would you
describe the effectiveness of your 2006 Christmas outreach, both in
distribution terms and income opportunities? Was the corps able to serve more
families, or did less sign up for help? Will the total income through kettles
and other methods show an increase over previous years? What about your
expenses? Were you able to obtain more volunteers and therefore pay fewer bell
ringers and other workers? If so, did your net income increase?
However you "assess" the 2006 kettle season, comparisons
are there to be made. Many depend on "kettles" to fund regular corps
programs throughout the year. As you make your assessment, ask yourself the
fundamental question of WHY we do this each and every year. Well, maybe
that's initially so obvious! Many corps could not fund its programs
(seasonal and otherwise) without a regular Christmas income.
As you have read in my earlier columns, about 90% of the American
public knows of the Army only by the kettle, bell and other Christmas relief
that we can provide local communities. This is a fact and therefore a
stronghold by which we must allow public awareness and confidence to grow.
Corporate America has supported us throughout the 2006 season with various
online and in-store programs. Even the Target Corporation has initiated several
ideas which may benefit our clients throughout the year. Our 2005 TV commercial
was successfully repeated on several networks along with an effective
television message from the country's largest retailer, Wal-Mart.
Consider a question asked by a retired General of The Salvation
Army. Hearing of the many, many thousands of families helped by this one corps
over Christmas, he asked the corps officer how many of those families he led to
Christ.
"Doing the most good," our national
branding promise, is a personal daily reminder (not just at Christmas time)
that many of those who receive material help from us also need a spiritual
foundation, which begins with an invitation to seek Christ in all His fullness.
The "most" good cannot be the bag of groceries or the sack of toys.
It has to be a much more meaningful way of life.
Our
National Commander announced on national television (New Year's Day
Tournament of Roses Parade - the pre-show on the Travel Channel) that The
Salvation Army is making a pledge to the American public by "Doing the
most good" in providing essential needs and building a spiritual
foundation. Thank you, Commissioner Israel Gaither, for your wonderful example
to God, every Salvationist, employee, volunteer and donor. We also pledge to
"do the most good" in its truest sense.
Finally,
across the territory how many Christmas recipients, volunteers and temporary
workers now know that The Salvation Army is pledged to "doing the most
good" as an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church? How many
now know that the Army's message is based on the Bible, its ministry
motivated by love for God, and its mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ
and meet human needs in His name without discrimination?
Now that would definitely be doing the most good!
New Orleans Men's Club
getting back in business
Not
long after the New Orleans Citadel Corps reopened on Oct. 1, Major Michael
Hawley and a handful of men decided to try reorganizing the Men's
Fellowship Club. Starting out as a monthly meeting, the group is steadily
growing - attracting 10 men to a meeting held before Christmas.
"This is yet another sign that the city and our corps is
back," said Hawley, the Greater New Orleans area commander and corps
officer. "Sure, we're taking baby steps, but it's in the right
direction and we intend to invite other men, and we plan to participate in
divisional events for men in the coming year."