Our employees are true ambassadors of our Organization, Mission and Brand. Debbie, one of our Thrift Store managers is an exemplary model of how she embodies the values of The Salvation Army in her work every day.
Debbie grew up in a busy household of 10 and when she was in her teens, she decided that she wanted to attend Booth Memorial High School in St. John’s, NL. She’d always seen how The Salvation Army wanted to help people without discrimination, and admired the work done by the Organization following in the footsteps of its founder William Booth.
When Debbie saw a posting for a part-time position at the Acton Salvation Army Thrift Store, she applied. After becoming a full-time manager, she moved to the Georgetown store, which she has been managing for the last six years.
Working for The Salvation Army Thrift Store really resonates with her. “The Salvation Army will always hold a special place with me,” said Debbie, who also expressed the inclusiveness of the Organization.
“Personally, the good I have seen and have been fortunate enough to be part of, will stay with me forever. Their mission statement, ‘The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs, and be a transforming influence in the communities of the world’, sums it up for me.”
Debbie recalled attending a tour of various Salvation Army facilities including a men’s shelter and a soup kitchen. She described her visits as, “eye opening”. “The number of programs and facilities that The Salvation Army is a part of, was humbling and it reminded me how important the funds we raise at the store are and how many lives we touch.”
Reinforcing the idea of touching and transforming lives, Debbie relayed a moving story about an individual in the store’s community who fell upon challenging times and was experiencing homelessness. Debbie and her team, along with members of the community, came together to provide them with available local Salvation Army resources where the individual was able to secure a permanent residence. Recently, they came back to see Debbie looking happy and in good health. “I will never forget the hug and appreciation that day. We both had made a huge impact on each other through this.”
Debbie has shown that she has a deep appreciation and desire to help others and a passion for the mission of The Salvation Army. We thank her for being a true Thrift Store ambassador, and for helping us care for our communities and the planet we share!