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ristmas! Portsmouth, Ohio programs this October brought 24 children to the events, and num- bers have increased week to week. The Suffern, N.Y., Temple Corps, which shares a building with the Spring Valley Corps, has been holding youth programs in the Corps building. The Spring Valley Corps also uses the College for Officer Training as a hosting location. With Haver- straw's new youth programs, there are now over 100 young people involved in Salvation Army events in Rockland. "This new ministry initiative provides op- portunities for more local leaders and cadets to be involved in showing and sharing the love of Christ to children and teens," said Major Marcus Jugenheimer, Rockland County coordinator and Spring Valley corps officer. The Rockland County Advisory Board has en- couraged The Salvation Army to continue its services in the county. The Haverstraw Center has hosted Army service ministries since May of 2013. A 'CIRCLE OF HOPE' Portsmouth, Ohio— During the summer, the Donut Run Circles of Hope 5K helped The Salvation Army raise money for the needy. "It's a great commu- nity event that allows us to raise funds for the local homeless," said Lydia Smith, the corps' community resource coordinator. "Part of the race course ran near the Ohio River," Smith said. "We're looking forward to having this race again next year. It was a lot of fun, participation doubled, and we hope to see it double again." LIFE AND BASKETBALL LESSONS Brooklyn, NY—The Bay Ridge Corps held an exciting three–week basketball clinic, which drew 50 children be- tween ages 8–14. "Our neighborhood is one in which there aren't many low cost/ free activities for chil- dren to participate in," says Lieutenant Joel Ashcraft, the corps of- ficer. "We had a vision of creating a free clinic in which children would be able to learn about teamwork, discipline, and hard work through playing the game of basketball." A councilman helped secure funding for the camp, which also in- volved teen volunteers. Ashcraft said the corps secured 20 new top–quality basketballs that remained with the corps, but "more important, they give the corps an opportu- nity to reach 50 new families with the love of Christ." MENDING CLOTHES Massillon, Ohio— Maybe you don't have to throw out that old sweater after all. The women and some children of the corps started a sewing class to help young mothers save money by making alterations and by fixing clothes for their children, said Major Linda-Jo Perks, corps officer. "We are also quilting, making Christmas gifts, aprons from a pattern, and selling things at Home League Camp for World Services," she said. "We are see- ing the joy of women who are fixing clothes they thought they had to throw away." Perks said the idea came from a woman who formerly lived in New York where she attended a design school and stayed at a Salvation Army women's residence. "Her dream was to give back through the Army," Perks said. 11 www.saconnects.org