A Year of Giving: Church Receives Inaugural Award from Salvation Army Guam Corps

On December 6, 2025, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was honored with the first-ever “Support of the Shield Award” from the Salvation Army Guam Corps—recognizing a partnership built over years of shared service and a mutual desire to uplift neighbors in need. The award, presented by Majors Eric and Jasiel Tumale, acknowledged the Church’s “long-standing partnership, generous support, and shared commitment to serving God by meeting the needs of our neighbors.” Accepting the honor on behalf of the Church were Brett Child, Self-Reliance and Welfare Manager for Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and Saipan, along with humanitarian missionaries Elder and Sister Brooksby.

This recognition comes at the close of a year filled with meaningful collaboration on several key Salvation Army initiatives. One of the most significant efforts began over the summer, when the Guam Corps moved forward with its first-ever meals-on-wheels program—an initiative Majors Eric and Jasiel had envisioned since arriving in 2023. While the Salvation Army has long provided canned and shelf-stable foods to vulnerable residents, it had never possessed the means to offer hot meals. With donations from the Church—including commercial-grade kitchen equipment and installation costs—the Corps is now completing a full kitchen renovation that will make this expanded service possible. The Church is also providing a delivery van to help bring hot meals to individuals across the island.

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Major Eric Tumale expressed his appreciation, saying, “We are thankful for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the long-standing support they have given us.” The new program is expected to serve 75–100 individuals three days a week, reaching people in every region of Guam.

According to Brett Child, this outreach fills a significant gap. He explained that the Ministry to the Homeless, part of Catholic Charities, primarily serves the mid-island region. “The north and the south are unrepresented,” Child said, “so this will allow us to go out and find others we can help with their burden.”

One major project reached fruition in February with the opening of the Salvation Army’s Lighthouse Recovery Center for Women. The beautifully designed center offers a comprehensive range of addiction recovery services, with treatment options tailored to meet diverse needs. In addition to clinical care, clients receive vital support such as assistance with housing and employment, peer mentoring, family counseling, and health education.

The center’s emphasis on healing, accountability, and successful reintegration into the community was strengthened through monetary donations from the Church, as well as sponsorship of a dedicated room. The family room—where mothers can meet with their children during visits—provides a safe, welcoming space that fosters reconnection and healing between moms and their children.

Beyond long-term projects, the Church also supported the Salvation Army’s holiday food distributions. More than 40 volunteers—Latter-day Saint members and full-time missionaries—helped prepare and serve more than 1,000 Thanksgiving meals across Guam.

For Christmas, the Church again provided both food and toy donations, along with volunteers who packaged meal kits for families throughout the island and assisted with the shopping day at the Toys for Tots event.

These donations to the Salvation Army in 2025 represent a year of unified service and a strengthened partnership rooted in compassion, collaboration, and a shared commitment to blessing the people of Guam.