After joining the All Saints Presbyterian Church Fruit and Veges scheme last year, the foodbanks are able to access fresh fruit and vegetables for food parcels at the best possible price.

The big charities' involvement over the past year is encouraging, says a Fruit and Veges scheme spokesperson.

"We feel privileged to be involved in doing that work with them — it is good to know that our wholesale buying power is being used for good.

"Their involvement has definitely increased the volume we buy and they are quite easy to supply, as they pack up their own produce."

About the scheme

All Saints set up the not-for- profit project ten years ago. It's going strong - and keeps on growing.

During the past year, two new distribution centres joined the five established centres working with the scheme.

Between these centres and the main foodbanks, the scheme today has a presence throughout Dunedin (apart from Mosgiel where no volunteers are available), says Rev. Canon Michael Wallace from All Saints.

How the scheme works

The not-for-profit scheme uses bulk-buying power to supply bargain price, top-quality fruit and vegetables.

Fruit and vegetables are provided through the MG Dunedin fresh produce suppliers' group, where a volunteer buyer selects produce for the distribution centres.

In addition, locally sourced eggs, honey and milk are now providing extra ways to enhance the scheme.

The good value food is intended for households battling rapidly rising food prices. Hundreds of Dunedin families benefit.

Who uses the scheme

People need the scheme for many reasons, says a volunteer.

"We have people who are unable to get out and shop for themselves, so we collect the bags for them and distribute them."

The number of local families accessing the fruit and veggies scheme waxes and wanes depending on the time of year, but remains strong overall.

"Recently we've had a lot more students coming in to buy affordable produce — although, interestingly, it is mainly flatting groups of young women. The guys don't seem as keen" the volunteer adds.

"An interesting development is that we are getting more people who want to come in on a Thursday and browse our produce stall at All Saints rather than having us pack up bags for them" he said.

"Some people prefer to come and make their own choices, which is great as well. The main thing is that people are able to access good quality produce at the lowest possible cost."

In Port Chalmers about twelve people access the produce bags each Thursday.

"It is important for us to help look after our community and it is a good outreach programme for our church" a helper says.

Source

• ODT

Salvation Army policy analyst Ana Ika (pictured) says the Government's approach is misguided.

"In theory, it sounds like it'll work, but it's a simple solution for a complex issue" she says.

But sanctioning beneficiaries to push them into employment will not resolve our worsening child poverty problem.

Many people receiving jobseeker support are in complex situations.

"It's not as straightforward as putting a job in front of them and telling them to go to work" she says.

Ika notes the Stats NZ report which found that in the year to June 2023, an additional 36,000 children were living below the poverty line.

Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston said in a statement that's why the Government wants to reduce the cost of living and get people working.

"Supporting parents into paid work instead of welfare dependency is important to the Government's strategy" Upston says.

But it's not that simple, Ika stresses. People need "meaningful employment".

She notes that, as the Salvation Army works with the most vulnerable communities, they understand the intricacies involved.

"It needs a progressive approach that addresses the individual needs of those on jobseeker support.

"The current proposal around sanctioning them and ensuring that they're constantly looking for employment in our view is a harsh treatment."

The Statistics

Stats NZ's report uses three primary measures to determine poverty.

The first two look at those with less than 50 per cent of the average household equivalised disposable income before and after housing costs.

These show that about twelve percent of children account for the former; 17.5 percent make up the latter.

The third measurement found 12.5 per cent of children live in material hardship. They live in households where costs mean they can't afford to buy at least six of 17 essential items.

They also found Maori, Pacific and disabled children were worse off on all three primary measures compared with the total population.

Disparities

Ika says the "significant" disparities the statistics reveal are not new and need a targeted response to resolve them.

Some child poverty targets for European and Asian children have been met, she notes.

Looking at the bigger picture impacting child poverty is essential.

Ika mentions education levels, social housing registers and welfare - and says high rents are taking their toll.

Families sacrifice groceries to buy school uniforms. School children work 20 to 50 hours on top of their studies to support their families.

Pacific followed by Maori households are on the bottom rung of average annual household equivalised disposable income before costs, Ika says.

Furthermore, rent for poorer communities - which predominantly house Maori and Pacific people - rises faster and beyond income levels.

After paying all expenses, these factors contribute to the reasons the families which the Salvation Army supports have little or no savings or financial buffers, she says.

That's why focusing on a single factor - like child poverty - can't work.

Their families must be included. Many are sole parents, dependent on welfare and living below the poverty line.

Source

• PMN

The report, Nga Tukunga Iho - The Things We Inherit, offers an annual assessment of the country's social progress - this year especially -

• children and youth
• housing
• crime and punishment
• social hazards
• work and incomes

Lt-Colonel Ian Hutson, The Salvation Army's Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit director, notes the new government has inherited a mix of successes and obstacles from its predecessor.

He emphasises the impact current policies will have on future generations and the responsibility to foster a better living environment for all New Zealanders.

While the report acknowledges significant progress has been made in recent years - reductions in child poverty, an increase in social housing units, sustained low unemployment - it also points to worrying trends.

These trends include the deepening cost-of-living crisis hitting lower-income households hardest. Rising rental costs are outpacing inflation and there are overall increases in food insecurity and financial hardship.

The State of the Nation report is unequivocal in its call for the new Government to take decisive action.

Hutson stresses the need to build upon the progress achieved and to adopt successful strategies to navigate the challenges ahead.

Concerns for Maori wellbeing

One of the report's key findings pertains to Maori wellbeing.

Persistent inequities affecting Maori in education, housing, employment and the criminal justice system need to be addressed, it says.

To achieve this, the report advocates for the importance of resourcing kaupapa Maori approaches to enhance well-being for whanau, hapu and iwi.

Children and Youth

The report's Children and Youth section has both positive and negative news.

On the plus side, it rates child poverty reduction as a significant achievement.

However, it also notes poverty's disproportionate impact on Pasifika, Maori, and children living with disabilities. It stresses the need for targeted efforts to meet Government poverty reduction targets.

The report also states that young people continue to tell of high levels of mental distress.

Housing

The report's Housing section paints a grim picture of unaffordability and homelessness. This is exacerbated by a decline in new housing consents and a surge in inward migration, it says.

The report calls for an urgent increase in public housing supply to address the growing backlog.

Crime and Punishment

In terms of Crime and Punishment, the report indicates an overall increase in reported and unreported crime and notes that violent offences are increasing.

Enhancing access to housing, employment, education and social services would be more effective in reducing crime than implementing harsher punishments, the report suggests.

Social Hazards

The Social Hazards section notes a positive decline in alcohol and drug consumption.

At the same time, it points to rising gambling losses and signs of increased financial hardship. One such indicator is the increasing number of calls for early KiwiSaver withdrawals on the grounds of financial hardship.

Work and Incomes

Under the heading Work and Incomes, the Salvation Army State of the Nation report highlights the continued high levels of employment but raises concerns about the rising unemployment and the persistent wage inequality affecting women and ethnic minorities.

It says high inflation is putting pressure particularly on low-income households. Furthermore, food insecurity for households with children has increased.

Source

• Supplied: The Salvation Army
• The full report is available from the Salvation Army.

It has written an open letter and launched a petition, demanding a meeting with incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon before Christmas.

CPAGs health spokesperson and former paediatrician Professor Ines Asher says they're calling for the meeting because none of the parties forming the new Government have policies to reduce child poverty.

She says it's "alarming" that there has been a "surge of babies admitted to hospital" with preventable diseases.

"Most of these babies become so sick because of their inadequate living conditions which enable bugs to thrive ...".

Asher says there's not enough for the basics; homes are cold and overcrowded, unhealthy and mouldy.

The nutrition is poor and stress levels are high.

Policies can be created to intervene to ensure these families can access the "basics" which she says will reduce hospital admissions.

Food accessibility, affordability and availability should be included in the policy, Asher says.

She adds that we had policies like this in the 1980s but they have all eroded now.

CPAG wants more help for low-income and benefit-dependent families, more state houses, better legislation about housing standards and help particularly with food adequacy.

For children, this means the food must be of a quality that enables them to be healthy - which is "manifestly" not the case at present, she points out strongly..

The extent of the problem

Almost half a million New Zealanders rely on food handouts each week, CPAG notes.

Stats NZ's most up-to-date Consumer Price Index information shows that, in addition to groceries, food, meat, fish and poultry prices saw an eight per cent increase on the previous year.

It doesn't matter where you live, North or South, people are lining up for assistance with the basics.

Rotorua Salvation Army foodbank corps officer Hana Seddon says the organisation had always been "an important part of a community response to the needs out there".

This year, people with jobs and mortgages struggling to feed their families are also turning to the food bank, she says.

Invercargill-based Salvation Army Major Murray Sanson says they also now see "the working poor".

He says rising rents are putting pressure on families, and extreme weather events in the North Island are creating food insecurity.

A similar story is being reported from the Tauranga Community Foodbank.

Manager Nicki Goodwin says they're seeing "record demand". As is the case elsewhere, homeowners, people working full-time and double-income households are looking for food support.

This year, the food bank has helped 22,298 people within 8213 households. This included 11,797 children she says.

Community help

Communities have developed many innovative ways to help support their food banks, from radio appeals to street collections.

Invercargill's current drive is seasonal and involves "reverse adventers".

They set out to "flip the script" on advent calendars, by collecting donations rather than receiving advent calendar gifts.

Each reverse adventer fills a box or a bag and adds a non-perishable food or toiletry item daily. After collecting 24 donations, the bag is taken to the Salvation Army's food bank.

Source

• Rotorua Daily Post
• NZ Herald
• Stuff
• RNZ

The Sallies are well-known for their op shops, their food banks and their social care - so why not health care?

"Particularly health care that treats more than just their physical needs but looks at them as a whole person and so that would make the hauora service for the Salvation Army a unique programme.

"We're looking at the whole person and now we can improve their health and wellbeing," said Salvation Army National Director Lieutenant-Colonel Rod Carey. Read more

These pressures are hitting people from several directions.

The report points to the escalating cost of living, increased household debt, lack of affordable housing and worsening education outcomes. It notes ever more young people are reporting psychological distress.

The State of the Nation report pulls together existing data to provide an annual snapshot of our social progress as a nation.

"The report acknowledges the very real pressures that are increasingly and significantly affecting people's lives as inflation begins to bite and people struggle to feed their whanau, to find work and secure warm, dry affordable accommodation," the Salvation Army's Lt Colonel Ian Hutson says.

He notes the employment market remains "disturbingly ineffective" at finding work for young people, Maori and Pasifika people.

Last September, the unemployment rate was more than twice as high for Maori (6.8%) and Pasifika workers (6.4%) than Asian and European workers.

Financial disparity is also clear, with one in five Pacific households reporting having not enough money.

Maori households were twice as likely as European or Asian households to be trying to survive on insufficient resources.

That adds pressure on those people's lives in particular. "The lowest income households are among the hardest hit," Hutson says.

Our social wellbeing is not just about money either. There are other pressure too - again especially negatively affecting Maori and Pasifika people.

The Sallies' research found about a fifth of rangatahi Maori aged 15 to 24 years were not in employment, education or training.

That's over twice the non-Maori rate.

Alcohol consumption is at hazardous levels for one third of Maori.

The Sallies hint that there's a broader collective set of costs a society needs to take into account. These need to support people to live fulfilled lives - and avoid the very real social and economic costs of inequality.

They hope the election year will find political leaders taking action to address social disparities and support communities to meet the ‘costs of living'.

While child poverty and hardship have been reducing, child poverty rates are still high - especially Maori and Pasifika children.

The proportion of young people aged 15 to 24 years are reporting high levels of psychological distress. Education outcomes have worsened. School attendance rates have declined.

For some, housing has improved, but the rental market remains tight and in general rents have steadily increased.

Worryingly, average household debt — driven by housing debt along with consumer and credit card debt — has increased to its highest level in more than 15 years.

The report also notes crime and punishment has increased in the past year, although the number of alleged offenders and proceedings against them by police declined significantly. Pandemic-related backlogs and increased jury trials contributed to the highest proportion ever of people on remand - 41 percent.

Positive outcomes

Fortunately, the report's findings aren't all negative.

Hazardous drinking has declined in general; cannabis and methamphetamine convictions have declined; and people are withdrawing their KiwiSaver savings for hardship reasons.

Maori are seeing improvements in some areas: a sharp reduction in the Maori infant mortality rate and a reduction in the large gap between offending rates for rangatahi Maori and non-Maori.

There's also been an increase in the proportion of Maori who report being able to speak more than a few words and phrases in te reo.

Source

• Stuff
• Salvation Army
• Salvation Army
• Salvation Army

"People experiencing harm from gambling often feel ashamed and stigmatised, and try to hide their situation, making it even less visible to others," says Lisa Campbell, national operations manager of Oasis.

"We want to emphasise that gambling harm is a recognised health issue in Aotearoa New Zealand and that the addictive nature of gambling means it is challenging to control and/or stop gambling on your own.

"Help is available from The Salvation Army Oasis and other specialist gambling harm services across the country," says Ms Campbell, "where the impacts from harmful gambling can be successfully addressed with counselling support, education and other tools like self-exclusion."

The Salvation Army Oasis is marking the week with a range of activities, including a poster campaign and an online quiz about gambling harm. Read more

Since lockdown began at 11:59pm on August 17, there has been an 84 percent increase in demand for emergency food parcels, with the rising need concentrated most heavily in south Auckland, says the Army.

More than 2200 parcels were distributed across the country last week, almost double the number requested the week prior, with marked increases in need evident across all major centres. Read more

The Army's fourth State of Our Communities Report focuses on Invercargill, Carterton and Tokoroa; three very different towns whose residents are facing similar challenges.

Using public data and interviews with 580 residents across the three towns, the report illustrates the challenges and aspirations of those living there.

Rising house prices have forced many first homeowners out of major cities into smaller regions. Read more

Although the details are not yet clear, Justice Minister Kris Faafoi has signalled his desire to pass the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill before February next year. The bill responds to Labour's election manifesto promise to ban so-called gay conversion therapy, he says.

The bill's supporters include the Salvation Army, the Green Party and the National Party.

Gay conversion therapy involves attempts to change a person's sexual orientation, despite that not being possible.

In expressing its support for the proposed new legislation, the Salvation Army says it "continues to oppose vilification of, or discrimination against, anyone on the grounds of sexuality or gender. This includes attempts to change another person's sexual orientation or gender identity, and any actions which deny a person's sexual orientation or gender identity."

Speaking about his bill, Faafoi said: "This bill isn't about criminalising people. It is about making sure we prevent harm that is happening as a result of these conversion practices."

But asked on Newstalk ZB whether parents could be jailed if they stopped their 12-year-old children from taking hormone-blockers, Faafoi said anyone intentionally changing or suppressing someone's gender identity or sexual orientation could be breaking the law.

At the same time, there would be a "long line" to walk before reaching a criminal offence, he added.

At present, the legal age of consent for hormone treatment is 16.

Radio New Zealand (RNZ) says it understands it will be made an offence to run a conversion therapy practice. Encouraging someone to go to therapy with the intention of changing their sexual identity will also become illegal.

Advising someone to seek religious, medical or mental health support in regards to their sexual orientation, however, will remain legal.

In a statement, the Salvation Army said "Christians are called to be like God and therefore to be living examples of his love in action in the world. ...

"We are told to "Accept one another… just as Christ accepted [us]" (Romans 15.7a), and to be "sympathetic, love one another, [and] be compassionate and humble" in our dealings with others (1 Peter 3.8). We are instructed to clothe ourselves "with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience… And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Colossians 3.12,14).

"The Salvation Army recognises the emotional, psychological, social and spiritual harms that these practices have caused and stands against their use in every circumstance."

Source

• NZ Herald
• Scoop
• RNZ
• Scoop
• Image: Gifsicle

A spokesperson for the Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith-Based Institutions, Liz Tonks, told RNZ that "victim-survivors were not hopeful because their experiences of churches is they have not been able to trust them in the past."

"They've known for a long time, they have never taken action.

"Survivors have been negotiating with them and telling them they need redress for decades and decades and they know the age of some of the survivors and they are likely to die without it if it's not given to them, so they have had plenty of chance to stand up and take action," she said.

Tonks told RNZ that the churches have not changed and suggests they are not likely to.

"It's irrefutable now. They say they are listening, they say they are learning. We think there is enough evidence that suggests they should have learnt by now."

Similarly, the newly formed survivor group in New Zealand, SNAP, is calling on churches to ‘own the truth'.

Spokesperson Christopher Longhurst, also a professional church theologian, accuses churches of a lack of action and is calling on the Royal Commission not to take church witnesses at face value.

"We hope that for example in assessing church protocols and church documents submitted to the hearing that the commission looks for signs of concrete action has (sic) taken place. For the application of what has been promised because we know from our experience that what the churches are promising, has promised, has not been delivered."

"Despite what the church are (sic) saying about listening to us and being compassionate, constantly time and time again members of our network have evidence to show the contrary, so we simply hope the Royal Commission will not take what these witnesses will present at face value", Longhurst told RNZ.

This week the Abuse in Care Royal Commission began the second part of a two week hearing into faith-based redress.

It follows, in late 2020, the Commission receiving shared personal testimonies and survivor experiences of being abused while in church care.

During this two week hearing, a select group of leaders from the Anglican, Catholic and Presbyterian Churches and the Salvation Army, will appear in front of the Commission.

According to David Cohen writing on RNZ, the $78 million Royal Commission is the most expensive royal commission in New Zealand's history.

"To date, it (the $78 million) has mainly been a cash cow for the policy analysts, the consultants, the career-enhancing secondees and others among its 197 employees, rather than for anybody who actually suffered abuse in any of these old places between 1950 and 1999", writes Cohen.

Sources

• RNZ
• RNZ
• Tekupenga

The Hon Megan Woods has been told historically low-interest rates, a stalled private rental market and not enough new houses are drivers of the housing crisis.

An increasing population due to Covid-19 border closures is partly to blame and a "more measured immigration policy" which is aligned to New Zealand's capacity to build more housing is needed, says the briefing paper.

The Salvation Army, which researched and delivered the paper, is calling for eight policy reforms.

These include the government addressing the impact of the Reserve Bank's monetary policy, implementing some form of capital or wealth tax and partnering with NGOs to provide social and emergency housing.

A review of the operational and financial sustainability and effectiveness of the government's housing provider Kainga Ora should also be undertaken.

Salvation Army's social housing director Greg Foster said the demand for housing was huge, but there was no supply.

"We just opened 22 units in Westgate about a month ago and we've had hundreds of people applying for those 22 places," he said.

"This storm is entirely the creation of poor housing policies of the past as well as related monetary and fiscal policies of the present', he said.

Foster said the organisation could not see an end in sight to the crisis and expected things to worsen for at least the next 12 to 18 months.

"Rents and the price of affordable housing are likely to continue to rise faster than incomes, and the social housing waiting list will grow longer still."

Foster is concerned a generation of young New Zealanders could be scarred by their current experiences of poor and inadequate housing.

"The Salvation Army has built over a hundred social houses in the past 12 months and will be building more in the next 12 months with the support of the government.

"Nonetheless, I feel that they need to do even more to support the sector to build more social and affordable housing at this time."

Source

• RNZ
• Image: Stuff

The delivery coincided with World Food Day (Friday 16th October) with deliveries to The Salvation Army depots in Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch and Palmerston North.

The Salvation Army will distribute more than 100,000 food parcels this year. The can donation from Wattie's will contribute to 6,250 food parcels that will provide around 225,000 meals. All the donated cans will be used to create food parcels for families in the lead up to Christmas. Read more

The study reports three major areas of concern seriously impacting New Zealand communities, a lack of mental health support, insecure housing and inadequate incomes.

These areas of concern are forcing people to look beyond their own backyard towards their community for support.

The State of our Communities Report paints a dire picture of how community social services are being called on to help a rising number of families and people experiencing severe social strains.

It notes this is the first time many New Zealanders have had to reach out for help following a loss of income.

During the survey, the Salvation Army interviewed 564 residents and conducted 14 interviews with key community leaders from Rotorua, Johnsonville and Queenstown.

The questions focused on mental health, housing, income/employment, under the lenses of the Covid-19 recovery and Election 2020.

All three communities raised major concerns around access to mental health services and are "crying out for a serious effort" to deal with these deficiencies, the State of our Communities Report says.

Locals are consistently reporting increased stress, anxiety and hardship, which are affecting people's mental health.

Existing mental health issues were amplified by job losses, social isolation, lack of income and other social challenges that came with the lockdowns, highlighting the lack of mental health services.

Specific mental health issues for children and youth are also emerging from Covid-19, the survey found.

Housing affordability is the most concerning issue for Johnsonville respondents.

Over a third (38 percent) of the 141 residents interviewed have had their employment impacted due to Covid-19.

Mental health issues, inequities between locals, and challenges for the local refugee and migrant populations were also of concern.

Since Covid-19, the Johnsonville Salvation Army has seen increases in new clients to their social work, counselling and addictions services.

The numbers of addiction assessments completed by existing and new clients spiked between March and June 2020, signifying the challenges people are facing during Covid-19.

Overall, the existing housing problems in each community have magnified since the lockdowns began.

There are stories of homelessness in Rotorua and unaffordable rental or private housing, especially in Queenstown.

The report identifies employment and incomes, housing and mental health services as the most important social issues for the upcoming election 2020.

Source

• Wellington Scoop
• Image: The Salvation Army

"This Bill worries us deeply. There is no allowance or trust for religious gatherings, which further indicates this Government's low view of spirituality as a fundamental part of overall wellbeing," Salvation Army Maori Ministry director Lt-Colonel Ian Hutson says.

The Salvation Army acknowledges there have been urgent changes to this Bill, including the removal of references to marae.

However, Hutson says the Bill shows a lack of trust in iwi, hapu and community groups to work within the Covid-19 guidelines, despite the proven leadership of Maori in protecting the health and wellbeing of whanau during Levels 3 and 4.

As frontline welfare responders to the economic and social effects of the Covid-19 crisis, The Salvation Army has seen first-hand the struggle many New Zealanders are facing emotional and financial needs and societal and family disconnection.

Churches provide love and support, especially for those who are isolated, vulnerable and rely on their church for social connection. The Army considers Sunday church services an ‘essential service', as they offer spiritual health; a vital component of wellbeing.

While most businesses, schools, restaurants, movie theatres, cafés and retail outlets are now given the freedom to operate with the necessary restrictions and safety measures in place, churches are not. The Salvation Army is willing and able to fully comply with Government restrictions on numbers and also contact tracing.

The Human Rights Commission says it's "deeply concerned" about the lack of scrutiny and rushed process for the Covid-19 Response Bill.

It says that despite the Government knowing for weeks that New Zealand will be moving to alert level 2, it has not allowed enough time for careful public democratic consideration of the alert level 2 legislation.

"There has been no input from ordinary New Zealanders, which is deeply regrettable," said chief human rights commissioner Paul Hunt.

Source

• Scoop
• legislation.govt.nz
• nzherald.co.nz
• Image: change.org

"It's especially disappointing when we're in the process of helping people at this difficult time. The food that was taken would have helped quite a number of Napier families and individuals," he said. Read more

"Harm from gambling is already at unacceptable levels in this country and increasing availability and new products through this Bill will only add to this problem," says Siobhan Kemp, Public Health Worker of The Salvation Army's Oasis Auckland service.

The focus should be on controlling the growth of gambling and preventing and minimising the harm that already exists from gambling addiction, not seeking new opportunities to gamble with the associated risks to people and whanau. Read more

But the Salvation Army warns the 7168 house surplus won't fix the housing crisis but instead shows that the shortage is caused by unaffordable housing and low income levels.

The u-turn on the housing shortage was in the charity's annual State of the Nation report, which this year offers a mixed bag of outcomes with some significant progress but a long list of areas to improve.

The report also came with a stern warning that everyday Kiwis needed to do more to address our entrenched inequality and poverty. Read more

The Salvation Army says comparing Christmas 2018 with Christmas 2019, it expects an extra 600 people to be in its housing this Christmas.

1187 people were in its centres on Christmas Eve in 2018, said their national director of community ministries, Jono Bell.

He said the Army had predicted the rise by looking at the number of people continuing to live on the streets, in a car or in motels.

"For most of us, Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, but for many others, it is another day without food or shelter and can be filled with stress and loneliness," Bell said.

Bell said the Salvation Army is offering wraparound support to all who spend time in their facilities at Christmas.

"Throughout the year we help thousands of people with emergency food and housing, as well as budgeting sessions, social work and counselling.

"Christmas is a particularly tough time for many people who struggle without enough food or shelter, let alone gifts under the tree."

• The Salvation Army supports around 16,000 people or 5000 families at Christmas.
• We provide over 1800 people with transitional housing during the Christmas season.
• Almost 16,000 clients receive Christmas gifts.
• Almost 15,000 receive Christmas hampers to help them put on Christmas dinner.
• Between December and January, we provide almost 10,500 social work sessions to families and individuals.

Sources

• Stuff
• Salvation Army

The pope was quoting a comment made by former Salvationist leader General Andre Cox during a 2014 papal audience.

During the audience, Francis also recalled the first lesson he ever received in ecumenism.

He was four years old and met several members of the Salvation Army while with his grandmother.

As an impressionable young boy, he recalled that despite his grandmother having a bias against Protestants in general, she praised the Salvationists as being good people.

"The example of humble service to the least of our brothers and sisters spoke louder than any words," he said.

"The holiness that shows itself in concrete acts of goodness, solidarity, and healing speaks to the heart and testifies to the authenticity of our discipleship."

The pope urged Catholics and Salvationists to work well together on this basis, saying, loving acts of service and charity help build the Kingdom of God, they attract and influence others.

Young people, in particular, need to witness Christians helping others "since in many cases it is absent from their daily experience," he said.

"In a world where selfishness and divisions abound, the noble fragrance of genuine self-giving love can offer a much-needed antidote and open minds and hearts to the transcendent meaning of our existence," the pope said.

Thanking the Salvationists for their mission and witness, Pope Francis made special mention of their work caring for the homeless in Rome and their efforts in fighting against human trafficking and other forms of modern-day slavery.

"The holiness that shows itself in concrete acts of goodness, solidarity and healing speaks to the heart and testifies to the authenticity of our discipleship," said Francis.

Francis met Friday with a delegation from the Salvation Army, led by its international representative and CEO, General Brian Peddle.

Source

• Vatican News