The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit Attends 39th Annual Youth Day
Last Wednesday, July 12, The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit attended the 39th Annual Metro Detroit Youth Day.
According to the Michigan Youth Appreciation Foundation website, the event’s purpose is to “channel children’s energies in a positive and constructive setting.”
The largest youth event in Michigan, Metro Detroit Youth Day has drawn nearly 2 million young people over the years, with a day of sports, fun, and constructive activities with the purpose of showing its young attendees that business people, the community, and the food industry cares about and respects them.
*Volunteers gather around The Salvation Army EDS canteen for breakfast
The Salvation Army has a yearly presence at the event, with its Emergency Disaster Services canteen, driven by EDS Director Charles McDougall. Coffee and breakfast are offered to Youth Day volunteers from the truck.
Helping to serve food, and greet volunteers was 32-year Emergency Disaster Services veteran Jim, who is an active member at the Royal Oak Corps.
*EDS volunteer Jim
“We’re here to serve the volunteers here. In terms of youth, there is generally from 1,000 – 10,000 kids at these events if there is nice weather we can expect a great attendance,” Jim said.
Throughout the day volunteers from multiple organizations came by the canteen for a bite to eat.
*Matthew and Ryan from the Wayne County Nursing Program
*Jazmyn from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
This year The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit’s newly appointed Metro Detroit Area Commander, Major Toni E. Dorrell was invited to speak on the Youth Day stage.
Ed Deeb and Barbara Jean Johnson, members of The Salvation Army Metro Detroit Advisory board were also in attendance – both of whom are involved in organizing Youth Day.
*Major Toni Dorrell speaks on the Youth Day stage
“What a beautiful event to be a part of today. Things like this are what makes a community strong. And we’re so happy as The Salvation Army to be part of this every year.
I want to say a special thank you to the event organizers, and especially to Ed Deeb, who is giving the generous donation of all the left-over food from this event, which helps The Salvation Army in Metro Detroit to Do the Most Good in feeding over 6,600 people a day.” Dorrell said.
*Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel also spoke on the Youth Day stage
The Salvation Army is proud to be part of Metro Detroit Youth Day and help to bring the community together by serving food to its volunteers.
If you would like to help keep programs like EDS and other essential services running you can donate to The Salvation Army, or volunteer.