A Career That Feels Like Home
Almost five years ago, I walked into The Salvation Army Western Division in Omaha, Nebraska, and began working in the Development Department as a Communications, Design & Events Coordinator. We were days away from a devastating spring flood, and in the midst of organizing a large annual event, and I had no idea what to expect in my new role. But I quickly discovered it was the beginning of a life-changing journey that would humble me, teach me, and challenge me on many occasions.
Just a few days into my job, I was deployed to communities around the Omaha metro, many of which were under water. Homes were either heavily damaged or destroyed and most of the farmland was flooded. Many people were left with very little after working so hard their whole lives, it was devastating. If there ever was a time that people needed a sign of hope, this was it.
I was sent to document the work of The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) team and share stories about the impact of their efforts in the area. Driving through flood-ravaged communities, one of the first things I saw was a Salvation Army canteen truck parked on the side of the road, handing out hot meals and drinks to people in need. It was in those very moments that I knew this job was going to change my life.
Among the hardest-hit communities that I traveled to were Hamburg, Hornick, Pacific Junction and various points across Mills and Fremont Counties in Iowa. In those locations The Salvation Army handed out hamburgers, bottles of water, Gatorade, and flood-cleanup kits, taking care of the residents’ most basic needs. I will never forget seeing people in kayaks and boats traveling up and down the main street like it was riverway.
Many of the schools and gymnasiums in those communities were temporarily converted into flood-relief shelters and disaster resource centers. They were one-stop shops to grab food, drinks, clean clothes, hygiene items and flood-cleanup kits. Lines of people waiting to receive help often filled these spaces. Everywhere I went, the scene was the same.
But one thing stood out to me. The levees may have breached, but the resilience of these communities did not falter. And when I returned to Hornick, Iowa, in August of 2019, after more than four months of flood-recovery and relief operations, The Salvation Army of Siouxland was still on-site providing dinner and handing out backpacks filled with school supplies to area children and their families. They stayed with the community to continue meeting their short- and long-term needs.
I spoke to a boy named Carson whose family lost many of their belongings in the floods. He was entering sixth grade at the time, and he was there with his dad, picking out a new backpack and school supplies. His face was filled with excitement. That moment needed no words. You could just tell how grateful he was for the assistance.
Time and again I have been able to witness the incredible generosity and pure kindness of The Salvation Army, its community partners, donors, and the many volunteers who step up to help carry out the mission of this great organization. I learned early on in my career that this journey would be much more than just showing up for work, clocking in and collecting a paycheck.
I found an organization of hard-working, selfless individuals who are devoted to serving the most vulnerable people in every community. I was searching for a place to land, that I could call home, and I found it.
A special thank you to Jacob Buckingham for sharing his experience as a staff member at The Salvation Army Western Division. If you, or someone you know, is looking for a career where their efforts will be #DoingTheMostGood, visit https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/usc/employment/