Guam committee recognizes National Salvation Army Week, commends 34 years of service

The Committee on Rules of the 38th Guam Legislature adopted Resolution 176-38 on behalf of the Legislature to recognize National Salvation Army Week during May 11–17, 2026 and to commend the Salvation Army Guam Corps for 34 years of service to the island.

The resolution, presented on behalf of Senator Chris Barnett, cites the Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division’s global network and describes the Guam corps’ local work in disaster relief, food distribution, addiction recovery and family services. The presenter said the division is part of a network of about 1.5 million members serving millions worldwide and noted the Salvation Army has been active on Guam since 1992 after a typhoon.

Major Eric of the Salvation Army accepted the resolution and thanked community partners, staff, advisory board members and donors. "We're so thankful for our community partners allowing us to serve our community," Major Eric said. "Without them, we cannot continue providing services that our community are in the most need."

The presenter read impact figures included in the resolution text, saying that last year the Salvation Army's family service and disaster relief programs served 123,877 individuals and provided more than 250,000 meals. The text also highlights recent disaster-response work following Typhoon Mawar, coordination of emergency feeding at seven shelters, meal deliveries to affected areas including Dededo and Hagatna, and the launch of a mobile meal program named Namidzu on March 27, 2026. The presenter also noted a new kitchen at the Core Community Center in Mangilao and ongoing thrift-store voucher distribution after the recent storm.

Valerie Ragus, introduced earlier in the presentation among Salvation Army staff and coordinators, spoke about the staff and volunteers who operate those programs and recalled lining up for vouchers after the 1992 typhoon. "We work for a bigger reason," she said, urging recognition of the workers who deliver services.

The resolution directs the speaker and the chairperson of the Committee on Rules to certify adoption and the legislative secretary to attest to it, and calls for copies to be delivered to the Salvation Army of Guam and to Hon. Lourdes Aflague Guerrero i Maga'haga Guahan. The committee closed the presentation with applause and expressions of gratitude.

The record does not include a formal roll-call vote tally in the spoken transcript; the adoption language appears in the read resolution text.