Meet the people behind the local Salvation Army

Pictured are Raelyn Marshall, family services worker, and Michael Tigani, casual support worker, at The Salvation Army food bank in Stratford. Alex Hunt photo

By Alex Hunt

After a successful Christmas campaign, staff at The Salvation Army Stratford-St. Marys Regional Community Ministries reflected on what drives their commitment to help others.

The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that provides a range of community supports, including emergency shelters, food programs, rehabilitation services and housing assistance. The nonprofit aims to help vulnerable people rebuild stability and independence.

A day in the life of a Salvation Army team member begins with a morning meeting to review the previous day’s duties and plan the day’s agenda. A moment is dedicated to staff and volunteers to share the challenges encountered on the previous workday.

Community and family services manager Jennifer Morris said sometimes team members can take home more emotional weight than they realize. Management strives to provide staff and volunteers with a work environment that is supportive and respectful.

“Our goal is to make our community feel supported and ensure that our team is safe and respected,” said Morris. “We want to help our clients navigate the system to the best of our ability and ensure that they are directed to the appropriate resources.”

Raelyn Marshall said that it was a shock to see how many locals were struggling when she was first hired as a family services worker three years ago.

“I think a lot of people don’t realize what goes on behind closed doors or the struggles others face. Many of our clients do an incredible job of making things work for themselves,” Marshall said.

Marshall’s role requires her to book client appointments, prepare food, delegate volunteer duties and ensure day-to-day operations run appropriately

“I move between our food banks in Stratford, St. Marys and Mitchell, which operate on different days.”

Marshall prioritized working for a local nonprofit after graduating from the social service worker diploma program at Conestoga College. She was onboarded at The Salvation Army immediately after her studies.

“Working here has taught me that I can handle different situations. When I started, I didn’t really know what I was doing,” said Marshall. “I’ve learned by asking for help and gaining experience, and now I feel very confident in my role.”

Casual support worker Michael Tigani concluded his third Christmas with The Salvation Army. Tigani commits to his position on a part-time basis while he finishes his last semester at the University of Guelph for criminal justice and public policy.

Tigani helps volunteers and staff sort and transport donations, pick up kettles and run community drives. He said one of the parts he enjoys most is interacting with clients and locals.

“I’m surprised at the scale of how many people we are helping, and I can see that the struggles are expanding,” said Tigani. “You hear in the news how groceries and rent are more expensive than ever. Before I started, I knew people were struggling, but I didn’t realize how many or how widespread it was.”

Tigani’s passion for community and helping others has encouraged him to pursue a career working with the Stratford Police Service after he graduates in the spring.

Dale Bowyer has volunteered with The Salvation Army for two-and-a-half years and plans to continue helping for as long as he can.

Bowyer helps with preparing hampers, stocking donations and organizing the back rooms at the Mitchell food bank branch.

“I’ve been involved in community support volunteer and work positions in other places. I think The Salvation Army is a great outreach program,” said Bowyer.

“I really like being part of getting food to the people who need it most. It feels good knowing you’re helping make a difference in someone’s day, and it’s great working alongside such a dedicated team here.”

Morris said staff and volunteers bring a variety of skills to the workplace.

“I love how diverse our team is, and that brings a lot to the community.”

Morris joined The Salvation Army in 2017 as a family services worker, filling a temporary contract, and returned in 2021 in her current role. As a manager, her responsibilities include building relationships with local organizations, ensuring programs meet community demands, supporting clients’ needs and facilitating community fundraisers.

“I do this job because I believe in its importance and value in people’s lives,” said Morris. “People thrive in an environment where they feel supported. Not everyone has that, but if we do our job well, then our clients can experience what that feels like.”

Morris said she gets excited when she notices recurring clients no longer need the nonprofit’s support.

There’s a lot of stuff that we do where we won’t see the impact, and you can only hope that it’s positive,” said Morris. “We won’t solve world hunger. We’re going to try and do our best, and we will do it together.”