By EMILY GARLAND
egarland@rentonreporter.com
Rebuild a Salvation Army building, help AIDS patients and donate a slew of band instruments. These are just a few of the items on the checklist for the upcoming Salvation Army Renton Corps mission trip to Zimbabwe, Africa.
But to check these items off its list, the team of nine Renton Corps employees and members needs the community’s help.
Plane tickets are already purchased for the July 1 – July 19 trip, and the team has a free place to stay, but to accomplish the mission’s projects, the team needs an additional $10,000.
The Renton Corps has already held a walk-a-thon, and is putting on two other fundraisers next week — a silent art auction June 19 and 20 and a garage sale June 20.
Salvation Army Renton Corps Capt. Terry Masango is hoping these events will help raise the required funds.
“We are desiring to make a difference in a few people’s lives, and hopefully others will do the same in other third-world countries, too,” he said.
While in Zimbabwe, in Harare, Masango and his team will help remodel The Salvation Army Highfield Temple to serve the thousands that fill the building every Sunday.
The Harare Salvation Army also needs new brass instruments. Even used saxaphones and trombones are better than the 10-year-old instruments used by that corps, Masango says.
Masango’s team will also help AIDS victims at a Salvation Army hospital and an AIDS orphanage.
And, on a more personal level, Masango’s daughters Fiela, 7, and Tanaka, 2, will meet their grandparents for the first time. Masango and his wife Rutendo are from Harare, Zimbabwe.
• Salvation Army Renton Corps is holding two fundraisers for its mission to Zimbabwe, Africa July 1 – July 19.
The ZMT 2009 Silent Art Auction is June 19 and 20 from noon-3 p.m. Paintings by Mareth Warren will be featured at the auction. A garage sale is June 20 from noon-3 p.m. Both events are at the Renton Corps Community Center at 720 S. Tobin.
• Donations of new and used brass instruments are also needed, to give to The Salvation Army in Harare, Zimbabwe. Donations are requested by June 25.
• For more information, call The Salvation Army Renton Corps at 425-255-5974, or visit its blog at salvationarmyrenton.blogspot.com.
