“It means I am saved to serve,” Alonzo said. “I am a servant of God and I serve to help others.”
Alonzo recently spoke to the North Shore Rotary Club about the Salvation Army and his involvement with the organization.
He told how the Salvation Army began in 1865, when William Booth, a Methodist minister in London, saw the poor in the slums along the way to church.
Booth felt God was calling him to
help them, so he resigned his position at the church and
began ministering to the poor and needy in London’s East
End. Today, the organization helps people worldwide.
Alonzo said he wears many hats at the Salvation Army. Not
only is he a captain there, but he is also heads its
fund-raising efforts, and handles public relations, as
well as security. The Army has a $1.2 million budget, he
said.
Christmas is the biggest fund-raiser for the Salvation
Army, Alonzo said.
“We got $177,000 from the Christmas kettles last year,”
Alonzo said. “We use the funds to do programs in east
Harris County.”Last year, Alonzo said they helped about
2,400 needy families and provided kids with about 4,700
toys. Through its Angel Tree Program, many families were
“adopted” so they could receive clothing and the kids
could get shoes for school. Stockings are also given to
children for Christmas.“We try to give every child one,”
Alonzo said. “But sometimes we give them two or three to
each family.”They also helps senior citizens by visiting
nine nursing homes in the area and providing them with
gifts.
They visit the homes once a month, Alonzo said. Another
thing the Pasadena Salvation Army did recently was assist
people in need after Hurricane Ike. “In the first 13 days
after the storm, we fed 3,000 people two meals a day at
the Salvation Army,” Alonzo said. “We served for 40 days
and 40 nights. It was almost biblical.”Alonzo added that
they served $9.2 million worth of meals in the area. They
also gave away water to the needy. Alonzo said that while
food and water were necessary for survival after the
storm, spiritual and emotional help was also needed.
“Sometimes, food and drink are not enough,” he said. “A
lot of people are struggling spiritually and emotionally.
Some are angry at God because they lost everything they
had.”
Alonzo said that they partnered with Baptist men and women
and the First World Ministers to have mobile kitchens come
in to help feed those affected by the hurricane. They had
800 cantinas with workers who cooked the food, kept it at
the right temperature and then distributed it. “(Helping
after Ike) was just one thing we do,” Alonzo said. “Why do
we do it? It is an opportunity to serve God and His people
in the name of Jesus.”
The Salvation Army in Pasadena is located at 2732
Cherrybrook Lane. More information is available by calling
713-378-0020.
