I was so excited when I stopped by Fred Meyer on Saturday and I heard the Salvation Army band playing outside. I felt the Christmas Spirit in a beautiful way. Today I’m sitting with those very same musical-gift-givers! Find out what happens to the money that is collected in the Red Kettle, and hear a story of one family in particular who was impacted.
Catch hope & encouragement with Erica on weekday mornings from 5:00 AM – 10:00 AM, and Sundays from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
TRANSCRIPTION:
Erica:
Oh my goodness. This is such a special day. Merry Christmas to us. The Salvation Army Band is here at the SPIRIT 105.3 studios. Welcome you guys. Hello. It’s Peter, John, Jeremiah, and Keith. And Captain Steve is here as well. And what are you guys going to start off playing this morning?
Salvation Army:
We start off with Hark to Harold Angels sing.
Erica:
All right, let’s do it.
Salvation Army:
[Playing Hark the Herald Angels Sing]
Erica:
Oh, that was absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much. Awesome. Oh, they’re so good. So what is the next song you guys have for us? Do you need to catch your breath first?
Salvation Army:
No, we’re good. Joy to the World.
Erica:
Love it. Let’s do it.
Salvation Army:
[Play Joy to the World]
Erica:
Amazing. You guys are so awesome. I can’t wait to get a picture with you if that’s okay. Of course. Do you have one more that we could do?
Salvation Army:
Yeah, we could do. Oh, come All you Faithful.
Erica:
Oh, beautiful.
Salvation Army:
[Playing Oh, come All you Faithful]
Erica:
Wow. Thank you so much. It’s so wonderful. Would any of you like to answer the question why you play with the Salvation Army Band? Anybody feel led?
Salvation Army:
Yeah. Our story goes, we’ve all learned how to play our instruments within the Salvation Army. All of our locations, where possible, we provide free music and arts lessons to the community. It’s the same for our location up here in North Seattle. All of us learned how to play with those free music and arts programs. And so during the holiday season. We just like to go around and share our love for music, but also our love, our love for Jesus through our music and wherever we go. This group in particular plays not only at grocery stores, but we also go to retirement communities, sharing the love of Jesus and music. So, that’s why we play. We’re just kind of giving back to the organization that kind of helped us start to play.
Erica:
Wow. I love that. Thank you for catching the Christmas Spirit means a lot. So Captain Steve, you want to kind of hop up to a microphone here? Is that cool? I got that right. Captain Steve, right, guys? Your sweaters, by the way. I’m not over them. I’m like, how do I need one? Do you guys sell them?
Captain Steve:
Yes, I can help you out with that.
Erica:
Yes. Just send me a link I’m in for sure. Well, captain Steve, thank you for coming with the Salvation Army,
Captain Steve:
Band. Yes, thank you for having us.
Erica:
I was so excited when I stopped by Fred Meyer on Saturday and I heard the band playing outside and I felt the Christmas spirit in a beautiful way. I was running around trying to get things done and you guys just blessed me. So what does it mean to the community that you all play at Christmas time?
Captain Steve:
Yeah, well, of course, as we shared, the joy of music is such a big thing, especially during this time of year. It just brings some instantaneous joy to some people to hear that, to hear something different. But also I think as we do it and people see it, they know that it’s more than just music, that when people put that dollar in the bucket, that is going directly to communities and programs in their neighborhoods. So with us in North King County, when you put a dollar in there that’s going to help someone stay in their home this season. That’s going to putting toys under kids’ trees this year. That’s going to our drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. So it’s that joy of music, but that joy that continues to keep giving, not just during the Christmas season, but throughout the rest of the year.
Erica:
How does it feel when you’re standing out there ringing the bell and somebody drops a dollar into the red kettle? I mean, what goes through your heart, Captain Steve?
Captain Steve:
One, I just feel incredibly blessed to be around people that are generous, that they’re not even questioning. Some people aren’t saying, what exactly is this going to? They just know our organization. They know that Red Kettle and they know that it’s going for good things. And really it’s going to serve Jesus Christ because we’re a Christian organization and we do all these things out of the love for Jesus. And so when I see it, I really get filled with joy, especially if I’m ringing that bell and no one’s given for a little bit. It’s a little bit of encouragement if I’m doing the right thing that people notice me. And so it’s just exciting. It also shows me that that means, again, that’s another family we’re going to be able to feed. That’s another person we’re going to be able to help give a hand up off the streets.
Erica:
Wow. Is there a story that you love to tell about a family who was transformed at Christmas time because of what you all do?
Captain Steve:
Yes. There’s a family. It was a single mom of four. She was leaving a domestic violence situation, and she was just having issue after issue, compiling from losing her job, from being on the verge of being kicked out of her apartment, and wondering, if she is going to wake up on Christmas morning in the car with her kids? They were kicked out of their apartment and we had the opportunity to meet this woman. And then we had her family get adopted out for Christmas. So, not just her kids get toys, the mother was able to receive gifts as well, and then things for their home. And we were able to help with rent and utility assistance. So, she was able to just take that stress off her plate. So, for the month of December, she didn’t have to worry, is she going to get kicked out tomorrow? Is she going to have some toys for her kids under the tree? And she even would say to us, I know it’s not about the toys, but I just need this win. I need my kids to have something to look forward to be excited for, and I just want to see the joy with them as they open up gifts. To us that’s a victory. There was a mom who was shown that she’s not forgotten, and her kids were shown that there is reasons to be joyful, to be excited about, and it’s a person in our community that we were able to serve, and they knew that they were being served because of the love of God.
Erica:
Wow. Thank you so much for doing the most good for catching the Christmas Spirit. It’s Captain Steve, Peter, John, Jeremiah, and Keith in the Salvation Army Band. God bless you guys.
Captain Steve:
God bless you. Thank you.
Erica:
Merry Christmas.
Captain Steve:
Merry Christmas.
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