The Chilliwack Salvation Army is marking a milestone anniversary this year and with it comes a fundraiser, celebratory events and some history.
It was 100 years ago when the Salvation Army came to Chilliwack to “open fire.” That was the lingo used back in the day when Salvationists would arrive in a community to lay the groundwork and launch a new corps.
For Chilliwack, that day was Feb. 24, 1924. And it was two women – Ensign Mary Dorin and Lieut. Pearl Coombs – who were the first commanding officers for the Chilliwack Salvation Army.
“They would launch ‘an attack’ on Chilliwack and it started with what they would call an outpost,” said Josh Draheim, community partnerships co-ordinator at the Salvation Army Care and Share Centre in Chilliwack.
In celebration of the Salvation Army’s 100 years in Chilliwack, they started a campaign in February with a huge goal of raising $1 million by the end of 2024.
“I do think it’s possible,” Draheim said with confidence. “I think it’s possible because we’re not doing it alone.”
The campaign idea came from Paul McManus, general manager of Chilliwack Ford, after a round of golf with Draheim. The two threw ideas back and forth and eventually settled on the ‘March to $1 Million’ fundraiser. ‘March’ is meant to be a play on the ‘army’ aspect.
“We’re looking for 10,000 people, that’s basically one in 10 people (in Chilliwack), to donate $100. We wanted to pick a number that ties in with the 100th anniversary,” Draheim said.
Their initial plan was to reach out to 100 local businesses to help raise funds. But even though there are many generous businesses in Chilliwack who support Salvation Army, Draheim said they wanted the fundraiser to be a little bit different.
“We want this to be grassroots. We want the average person to participate in this, and it to be an ongoing thing.”
The goal is hold onto as many of those $100 campaign donors for years to come.
“If we can get to the point where even 30 per cent – even 3,000 people – donate $100 annually, $300,000 annually in addition to our regular giving is going to make a huge difference… even more than a one-time $1 million. That becomes what the campaign is really about,” Draheim said.
The money will go towards stocking shelves at the food bank, and buying fresh produce to add to hampers.
Food bank usage has increased by more than 40 per cent in the last year alone, and they currently hand out 1,500 hampers a month, 1,000 of which are through partners such as transition societies and the food programs via the Chilliwack School District.
READ MORE: Salvation Army Chilliwack invites backyard growers to ‘Plant a Row For Us’
The March to $1 Million funds will also go towards expanding services to the public, and purchasing/updating equipment (such as new forklifts) and maintaining/repairing their facilities on Yale Road and Brooks Avenue.
The Care and Share Centre on Yale Road opened in 1987 as a thrift store. Today, it’s where the Salvation Army operates all of its social services programs including the food bank, a soup kitchen, and the homeless outreach program. The community church on Brooks Avenue opened in 1983.
The first Salvation Army service took place in 1924 at the Orange Hall near the intersection of Wellington Avenue and College Street. They soon purchased a property for $450 at Yale Road and Princess Avenue and moved there in the spring of 1925.
In 1966, the Citadel was built at the same location on Yale and Princess. That building came down in 1983, the same year the community church opened on Brooks Avenue. Four years later came the Chilliwack Salvation Army’s second facility on Yale Road.
Draheim and captains Matt and Fiona Kean are just some of the staff who’ve been digging through the archives gearing up for some of the 100th anniversary events, and sharing them online.
Fiona came across one that piqued her interest.
In 1976, the Chilliwack Salvation Army Youth Band set a new world record for brass band marathon performance after playing for 29 straight hours. They did it to raise money for new instruments and to send kids to summer camp.
Draheim and the Keans are hoping people will share more stories about the Salvation Army during some of the events they have planned this year.
On Sunday, Aug. 25, there will be an outdoor downtown multi-church worship service and party at Central Community Park. This will feature a combined worship service put on by several Chilliwack churches in the morning, with music, games, and food in the afternoon. It will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
On the weekend of Sept. 20 to Sept. 22, there’s a 100th anniversary celebration at the Salvation Army Chilliwack Community Church at 46420 Brooks Ave. This will include a youth event, a celebration dinner, a Saturday night concert featuring the Salvation Army Seattle Temple Brass Band and Songsters (choir), and a Sunday morning celebration followed lunch and family fun.
For more about the Chilliwack Salvation Army’s 100th anniversary, and to donate to the March to $1 Million campaign, go to www.SA100Chilliwack.com.
