FY2021 ANNUAL REPORT AUSTIN AREA COMMAND/LEADERSHIP
By Payton Rothenberger, Communications Team
Every year, The Salvation Army Austin Area Command publishes an Annual Report to review the impact of our services in Central Texas. The target audience includes media, donors, corporate partners, and volunteers.
Opening with remarks from Major Lewis and Major Jacqulyn Reckline and Advisory Board Chair Randy Present, many thanks are given to the members of our community who have been so generous with their time and money to help further our mission.
As you read through our report, it is my hope that you will not only see statistics and numbers, but that you will understand that those are representative of the real families and members of our community whose lives have been impacted by The Salvation Army. In a world where we hear bad news all too often, it is powerful to reflect on the fact that there is still good being done and that hope marches on every day.
Austin Area Command
Hope Marches On
You may recognize these three words as our recent national slogan for seasonal fundraising. But they are more than that. This slogan serves to remind us, as an organization, to keep doing what we do best: Give hope. This pledge calls us to stay focused on the constants. There are people who need us, we have a community behind us to help, and we are an Army in motion.
Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation; to trust and have confidence in and to consider something possible. Most of us cannot imagine what it’s like to be completely hopeless, but that’s exactly how the majority of those who walk through our doors feel.
Much has changed this past year, and much has stayed the same, as always. Serving, caring, giving, sharing, and loving in The Salvation Army will not change. It’s no accident that our logo for the past 156 years is a shield. Without saying a word, it communicates trust and protection for those who need us most.
You, our donors, have not only given these women, children, and men a reason to hope, but you also give hope to The Salvation Army. With each gift that we receive, you tell us we will keep going, keep moving, and keep marching under the banner of hope.
Your decision to donate time and money to The Salvation Army is the very reason Hope Marches On. It’s the very reason there are safe beds to sleep in rather than cars. It’s the reason a mom won’t have to choose between paying bills or buying groceries this week.
Thank you for your generous hearts and lives. The spirit of this loving community will keep us moving forward, and it will keep our shield strong for those who need it most. With your help, countless can expect the impossible to be possible because HOPE is here.
“May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow
with hope!” Romans 15:13
May God bless you,
Majors Lewis & Jacqulyn Reckline
Leadership
Inspiring Hope and Healing
I am honored to serve as the Chair of the Advisory Board for another year. Beyond amplifying the mission and services of The Salvation Army, the Board helps to provide advice, insight, and perspectives from the community. It is a blessing to continue supporting the programs and services of The Salvation Army Austin, and I am deeply grateful for all of the officers and staff who give their time and talents to this amazing organization.
On behalf of the entire Advisory Board, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our success over the last year. We could not have done it alone. When I think of the generosity of our donors and volunteers, I am reminded of the ways in which we are living out the Lord’s calling for our lives and glorifying Him. 1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”
As you turn the pages of this Annual Report, I pray you would be inspired to continue supporting The Salvation Army as we to bring hope and healing to our neighbors. Hope marches on because of the incredible work The Salvation Army does each day. I am proud to lead the Board in offering guidance toward creating a better future for each and every person in our community.
God bless you,
Randy Present
Advisory Board Chair
View the entire FY2021 Salvation Army Annual Report HERE!