SALVAvida

We headed recently out to clean up near the Salvation Army, where the white styrofoam litter scattered across the area was hard to miss. Just as we were about to begin, a city bus pulled up, and the crowd dispersed—except for one person. A figure in a red hood remained, quietly staying behind while everyone else left. Without a word, he started picking up the litter we were preparing to tackle.

That person was Salvatore. When I asked him why he was cleaning up, his response was simple yet powerful. “I stay here at the Salvation Army, and I can’t stand seeing it like this,” he said. That was all I needed to hear. He didn’t have a phone or ID, but I knew immediately that he belonged on the Workforce team.

Salvatore joined us recently, and he worked like a machine from the start. His work ethic earned him a spot at the top of the team. At just 18 years old, Salvatore is the youngest member we’ve ever had. It’s hard to imagine navigating homelessness at such a young age, but he’s facing it head-on.

We’re proud to have him with us and committed to helping him however we can. This is just the beginning for young Sal. Stay tuned for more updates!