Conversation, laughter and the smell of delicious food permeated the South Central Kansas Area Command as cadets from the College for Officer Training (CFOT) joined with Pathway of Hope (POH) families for a day of learning, connecting and cooking.
Club Pathway, part of the POH initiative in the command, brings families together to engage in activities designed to build community while they develop life skills through educational opportunities, hands-on activities and fellowship. It’s a place where the practical and spiritual combine as families find genuine love and support while learning new skills that help them meet their goals.
For this event, a brigade of six cadets from the “Defenders of Justice” and “Champions of the Mission” sessions on spring campaigns crafted an activity focused on feeding a family on a budget. The goal was for each cadet-family team to create a nutritious meal for a family of four spending only $10. On the menu was an assortment of meals, each offering a unique flavor and learning experience.
Cadets opened the Club Pathway activity with a devotional on God’s faithful presence, wisdom and love even in the hardest times which resonated with the group. As they split into teams and began preparing recipes, cadets and families shared their stories with one another, and the cadets learned first-hand the incredible impact the POH initiative has made in the lives of participants.
One single mom of four shared about how she turned to The Salvation Army for assistance after losing her job last year. Through POH, she was able to overcome many challenges as she connected with a support system that helped her meet her goals. In turn, the cadets shared their past struggles and encouraged participants to continue moving forward.
Once the cooking was done, everyone came together to sample the dishes, enjoying a smorgasbord. Each family then received a cookbook of the recipes, a shopping guide for each meal, event photos, family photos and more. They also left with an assortment of groceries the cadets packed for them from the food pantry and a gift card to use at the grocery store.
