Dennize

Welfare

After attending a local Salvation Army youth programme through his school, Dennize’s son Fred got his whole family involved

Dennize remembers clearly when Fred first heard about The Salvation Army through SportsLife, a programme run at his local school combining sports and mentoring. After he found out The Salvation Army could also help his family, he brought them along to the local Salvation Army Community Ministries.

‘My son came to me one day after school with a piece of paper in his hand,’ says Dennize, Fred’s mother. ‘He told me, “Mum, you just have to ring this number!”’

Fred and his three sisters began attending youth programmes, events and camps at their local Salvation Army centre, while Dennize and her husband received assistance with budgeting, counselling and occasional food parcels.

‘We have a lot of fun,’ says Fred’s sister Fiona. ‘I really like being able to meet all of the different people, and I don’t feel like I need to get into trouble. All our friends come here, so we can just have a good time here instead.’

‘My children love to come to The Salvation Army,’ adds Dennize. ‘They love to have relationships with not only the youth but also the adults who help them with different things.’

Local Welfare Team Leader Jason has worked with Dennize and her family over the years: ‘Whenever someone comes through our doors, it is about building a relationship with them,’ he says. ‘It has been so good to see the whole family, especially the kids, get involved and make positive changes in their lives.’

The help and fellowship Dennize and her family received from The Salvation Army immediately spurred in them a desire to give something back.

‘I like being able to see how happy people look when we can give them something,’ says Mary, Dennize’s youngest. Fiona adds, ‘It feels so easy to help people because someone else helped us too.’

Dennize became the chef for the local Salvation Army centre’s community meal, held once a month. She creates a theme for each meal, and Fred, Fiona and Mary help her prepare the food after school.

‘I love to work for people in this community,’ says Dennize. ‘I want to share my talent with everyone and help The Salvation Army come together with the community and eat as a family. We want them to know that if they need help, we are here.’

Salvation Army youth programmes offer a positive influence in the lives of young New Zealanders. We are proud to see how this brings families and communities together.