What comes to mind when thinking of a visionary? The Wright Brothers, maybe, or Winston Churchill? Or, more recently, Bill Clinton or Bill Gates, perhaps. Well, add Salvation Army founder General William Booth to the list of people who have effected great change on an international scale. As founder of the Salvation Army, General Booth responded to social concerns in the nineteenth century by creating a religious organization designed to meet the needs of all humans without discrimination.
In response to the need for jobs and affordable merchandise, coupled with the fear of disease and a desire to preserve the land, Booth created the Household Salvage Brigade composed of a group of men and women who were charged with the responsibility of collecting unwanted household items.
At the time, Booth summed up his vision by saying, “At present much of this waste is thrown into the dust-bin, there to fester and breed disease. Then there are old newspapers, ragged books, old bottles, tins, canister, etc. We all know what a number of articles there are which are not quite bad enough to be thrown into the dust head, and yet are no good to us.”
More than 100 years ago, General Booth recognized and responded to social and environmental challenges that we continue to face today, further illuminating not only Booth’s insight and social conscience but his compassion. Booth’s legacy lives on through the work of the Salvation Army and the recycling retail brilliance of the Salvation Army Thrift Stores.
It was the change the world needed at the time to help reduce waste and encourage people to reuse and recycle - words commonly used today as all society becomes more concerned about our environment. General Booth recognized the need, created the solution, and moved it forward. Today, with your help, we continue to raise the bar with a relentless and unwavering commitment to the cause.
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