News : Kettles raise $15K for Salvation Army to help empower people with needs

Scott White was homeless before the Salvation Army helped him; now helps others facing homelessness.

Pastor Bob Gaston was discussing the impact of the Salvation Army kettle campaign in Benton County, when evidence of that program’s impact walked into his office Friday morning.

Two men entered; one was Scott, who was among the 50 or so volunteer bell-ringers who helped raised more than $15,000 in November. Another was a homeless man named Ryan. When Scott first contacted Gaston a few months ago, he had been homeless, too – living in a tent at at Linn County park camp site.

Now, Scott has a job and an apartment in Vinton. And now, he is helping Ryan and others overcome some of the very same challenges he recently faced.

Scott and Ryan are examples of the kind of people that the Salvation Army – working with local volunteers from several churches and many donors – have been helping since Gaston revived the organization’s work in Benton County.

A volunteer director, Gaston had worked for more than 20 years with the Bremer County Salvation Army. His work in law enforcement and later in the ministry offered a background in working with a variety of people with needs.

During the 2013 Christmas season, the kettles outside of Fareway (along with some smaller kettles set up on counters in other stores and gas stations) netted around $10,000. This year, the total was $15,003. While that included one gold coin which was worth $1,200, and a few checks in the $100 to $500 range, most of the donations were from customers who tossed a few coins or bills into the kettle as they greeted the bell-ringers, says Gaston.

For Gaston, who leads Harvest Christian Fellowship of Vinton, helping people like Scott and Ryan is about “empowering, not enabling.”

“We don’t have enough resources to help homeless people remain homeless,” says Gaston. “But we have enough resources to help a few who are homeless to get to the next step.” In addition to Ryan, who is staying for now in a room on the second floor of the church parsonage, the organization is also helping a homeless single mom. Other people receiving assistance this week include a family of seven which was in need of a water heater. That man found a good used heater for $75; was able to install it himself, but first but needed help paying for it.

The Salvation Army helped Scott twice, says Gaston. First, it helped him with his job and housing issues. Then, it gave him the opportunity to help others, adding value and accountability to his life.

Accountability is a key factor, said Gaston. It helps people make the changes they need to break the cycles of joblessness, and homelessness. Records help keep track of who received assistance and when, in order to prevent abuse of the system.

While 30 percent of the kettle proceeds go to the Salvation Army organization for its work in other areas, 70 percent remains in Benton County. One hundred percent of donations giving through area churches throughout the year also remains in this county. Those funds provide gas vouchers for clients to get to jobs or job interviews or medical appointments, and help cover emergency food or housing expenses.

Also, Gaston – a former Waverly police office and assistant chief – is one of a very few members of the clergy who also visits prisoners in the local jail.

Helping those in need, he says, is what Jesus asks of his followers. Quoting the words of Christ from Matthew 25, Gaston said that Jesus told his followers that when they did (or did not) feed the hungry, clothe the naked or visit those in prison, they were (or were not) doing those things unto him.

Many local churches, individuals and businesses are helping, as well. A local man recently offered a house; the owner of the Modern Motel offered some furniture for that house. And area churches and the Vinton Area Ministerial Association help with funding and bell-ringing.

For more information about Salvation Army and its work in Benton County, call Gaston at Harvest Christian Fellowship at 319-472-5352.