New Officer Appointed to Port Angeles
Media Contact:
Marta Coursey
Phone: (206) 217-1280 | Email: marta.coursey@usw.salvationarmy.org
New Officer Appointed to the Port Angeles Corps
Captain Crystal Birks appointed to The Salvation Army Port Angeles Corps
Captain Crystal Birks is now serving as The Salvation Army officer in Port Angeles. The Captain is excited to meet the people of Port Angeles and serve those in need. The Port Angeles Corps serves neighbors in need with programs that include a client choice food bank, rental assistance, eviction prevention, church services, and youth services. The divisional leader of The Salvation Army Northwest, Lt. Colonel Cindy Foley says, “It is always a great moment in our local communities when a fresh and enthusiastic officer arrives on the scene. We have high hopes for the love and support Captain Crystal Birks will bring to energize our service work.”
Captain Crystal grew up in The Salvation Army; she comes from a large family who are all involved with The Salvation Army in some way. Captain Crystal is invested in the community the Army provides and is passionate about spreading the gospel of the Army through her work. For ten years, Captain Crystal has held many roles within The Army, working primarily with children and teens. A northwest native, she was born in Oak Harbor and looks forward to being back in her native state, taking in the lush nature. Captain Crystal is excited to get to know the members of this community. In her spare time, she enjoys cross stitch, spending time with family, and working towards completing her master’s in Pastoral Studies.
The Salvation Army Northwest Division helps people overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services by providing food for the hungry, clothing and shelter for the homeless, disaster relief, senior activities and outreach, adult rehabilitation, and opportunities for underprivileged children.
The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 when William Booth decided to take his ministry into the streets of London where it would reach the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the destitute. It is now part of the universal Christian Church, and an international organization meeting human needs in 127 countries around the globe. The Salvation Army continues its tradition in the Northwest Division by serving more than 600,000 people annually, always meeting human needs without discrimination. Among the services offered in this region are rent/utility/gas assistance, food pantry, clothing, disaster relief services, summer camps, holiday assistance, services for the aging, medical facilities, shelters for battered women and children, family and career counseling, vocational training, correction services, and substance abuse rehabilitation.