With Heart and a Smile 

by Hugo Bravo

Joseph Callahan has always been drawn to helping, especially if it allowed him to see others in a new way. He first came across The Salvation Army as a teen, when a friend asked him for help emptying bins at a local corps. Callahan learned that these bins were full of clothing and other products that had been donated. They were sorted, cleaned, and prepared to be sold at Salvation Army stores. The money went to help the Army help others. 

“I believe we all have more inside of us than what people see on the surface,” says Callahan. “I had seen The Salvation Army as a business that operates like any other. But when I looked deeper, I saw that it did so with a smile and a heart for giving.” 

Years later, Callahan worked for Triumph Group, a supplier of aerospace services and technology. The company encouraged their workers to participate in local volunteer activities, such as picking up meals and delivering them to families for Thanksgiving. Because he owned a van and could do larger pickups, Callahan became familiar with the locations of food centers and pantries in Connecticut, including the ones from The Salvation Army. He met Majors Migdalia and Tim Lavenbein, who were serving in Hartford at the time. 

“The majors were my first introduction to Army officers, people with a heart for God and for what they do,” remembers Callahan, who has been a Christian for 20 years. “The pantry at The Salvation Army was loaded with food, and in a week, it would be empty, ready to be filled up again. I like how the Army takes an idea and turns it into a program for giving that seems to never stop.” 

(Photos/Courtesy of Joseph Callahan)

The joy of giving 

Callahan says that volunteering goes beyond just improving someone’s life from a distance. At The Salvation Army, you get to meet the people you help. To him, these interactions are miraculous. 

“I think I get more joy out of giving someone a meal than they do receiving it,” says Callahan. “When you give a meal or a bag of groceries to someone going through hardships and health issues, you see the world through different eyes. You finish your day feeling enriched and enlightened, like you’ve been touched by God. What could be better than that?” 

Callahan has also accompanied The Salvation Army at Hartford’s marathon events, feeding first responders and the runners themselves.  

“I have so many great conversations at those type of community events,” says Callahan. “I like that the Army is present there too, because those athletes are giving their own time to a cause by participating.” 

A lesson in listening 

Callahan is looking forward to his next assignment: training to be a part of The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS).  

“I’ve been on EDS trucks for events, but I haven’t gone to an emergency yet. I’m excited and anxious to learn work that involves emotional and spiritual comfort towards people in crisis; what to say and do for someone to help bring them back from the pain they’ve experienced.”  

He recalls a lesson from his years working in sales about taking the time to talk less and listen more.  

“The No. 1 rule of selling is allowing someone to sell themselves,” says Callahan. “I don’t have to imagine what you need or feel, because you’re right there. I want to hear it from you. When I meet someone who has suffered loss and wants to share their emotions, I want to listen to what they say.” 

Callahan hopes to continue finding new ways to help with The Salvation Army, such as in fundraising and in outreach to people in recovery. He knows that others can find their own ways to serve too, if they approach it with an open mind, a happy heart, and a smile. 

“We’re all humans with urges to visit places for fun or buy things for ourselves. If we really want something, we won’t let the price or time keep us from getting it. We make the time, and we do it because we know it will make us feel good.  

“That same mentality can be applied to volunteer work. Don’t let the doubts of what you think you can or can’t do or how much time you can give stop you. The feeling that comes from helping others is incomparable.”