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'Thank God there was a door' A safe harbor for stormy lives Animals love human volunteers Bean Project changes lives City Red Cross chapter helps victims of 300 blazes yearly Cops continue crusade for needy kids Dental clinic for kids delivers smiles Denver Partners find joy in mentoring Determination helps single mom Feast gives poor a meal fit for king Green thumbs, warm hearts help harvest hope for needy Homeless critters need Christmas, too Kids Cafes serve up sustenance Little white ball leads teen to turnaround Mentors help teens excel in school, life Musician strikes chord with mentors Once-homeless teen opens door Project Angel Heart's meals a blessing to Denver's sick Rape awareness program also emphasizes prevention Reach out by reading aloud to kids Recipient: Samaritan House help 'a miracle' Salvation Army long has helped the needy, especially at yule School's goal is personal growth Specialist helps keep Indians in class Students communicate, learn through dance moves Sungate helps abused kids survive confusion and pain
'Thank God there was a door'
A safe harbor for stormy lives
Animals love human volunteers
Bean Project changes lives
City Red Cross chapter helps victims of 300 blazes yearly
Cops continue crusade for needy kids
Dental clinic for kids delivers smiles
Denver Partners find joy in mentoring
Determination helps single mom
Feast gives poor a meal fit for king
Green thumbs, warm hearts help harvest hope for needy
Homeless critters need Christmas, too
Kids Cafes serve up sustenance
Little white ball leads teen to turnaround
Mentors help teens excel in school, life
Musician strikes chord with mentors
Once-homeless teen opens door
Project Angel Heart's meals a blessing to Denver's sick
Rape awareness program also emphasizes prevention
Reach out by reading aloud to kids
Recipient: Samaritan House help 'a miracle'
Salvation Army long has helped the needy, especially at yule
School's goal is personal growth
Specialist helps keep Indians in class
Students communicate, learn through dance moves
Sungate helps abused kids survive confusion and pain
Christian group accepts donations of any size
By Gary MassaroDenver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
''If you do social work right, and if you do gospel work right, you can't tell them apart,'' Andrew S. Miller, Salvation Army retired national commander. Jerry Koch tries to live his life by those words. Koch, 57, works in the Denver office of the Salvation Army. Helping others has always been part of his life. His parents, Marjory and Albert, are retired Salvation Army officers. They raised Koch on service and Scripture. "I went into the Salvation Army before I was born," said Koch, who has served almost 34 years with the organization, about 20 in Denver. He has worked in shelters for single people and homeless families, has fed the hungry and has worked with people trying to overcome their addictions to drugs and alcohol. The Salvation Army also operates thrift shops and youth centers. Koch is in charge of the Christmas warehouse, a huge complex in Denargo Market where workers and volunteers stack cans and boxes of food and toys in baskets that will be delivered to about 4,000 families facing some hard times this Christmas. "A lot of times they'll come in at Christmas and have a lot of other needs as well," Koch said. Like the grandmother whose daughter had just died, leaving behind seven children. "Can can you imagine the grief of losing a daughter, raising seven grandchildren, and also facing Christmas?" Koch asked. And the grandmother was behind in her utilities payment. So Koch got her a food basket, arranged for the children to get toys, enrolled her in the Salvation Army Social Service Program and sent her to another office to get help with her heating bill. Some people hear of stories like that and are reluctant to send in a small contribution. They figure their $5 or $20 donation won't help. But those add up. "It's easier to find 100 people who can donate $5 than to find one person who can donate $500," Koch said. Koch speaks from experience. He started working for the Salvation Army when he was a teen-ager and continued through his college years. He received a master's degree in social work from Indiana University. "Basically, what I've learned is a lot of what I see is attitude than the actions," Koch said. "The actions come from the attitude." A lot of times in their working lives, people question if they've made the right career choice. Koch said he gets periodic reinforcement. "When people get their lives turned around, then I know it's the right decision," he said. December 21, 2000 NewsWeatherOpinionNationWorldSci/TechDeaths BusinessStocks Bank Rates SportsBroncosAvalancheNuggetsRockiesCollegeRockyPreps RecreationSnow Rept.HikingBikingFishingGolfCalendarDentry EntertainmentMoviesDiningMusicOn StageBooksTV Living Comics Health Food Home & Garden Family Travel Cookbook Births Weddings Crossword ClassifiedPlace an adAutoCareersHomes User Agreement / Privacy Statement © Copyright, Denver Publishing Co.Subscribe to the NewsQuestions? Comments? Talk to Us
''If you do social work right, and if you do gospel work right, you can't tell them apart,'' Andrew S. Miller, Salvation Army retired national commander.
Jerry Koch tries to live his life by those words.
Koch, 57, works in the Denver office of the Salvation Army.
Helping others has always been part of his life.
His parents, Marjory and Albert, are retired Salvation Army officers. They raised Koch on service and Scripture.
"I went into the Salvation Army before I was born," said Koch, who has served almost 34 years with the organization, about 20 in Denver.
He has worked in shelters for single people and homeless families, has fed the hungry and has worked with people trying to overcome their addictions to drugs and alcohol. The Salvation Army also operates thrift shops and youth centers.
Koch is in charge of the Christmas warehouse, a huge complex in Denargo Market where workers and volunteers stack cans and boxes of food and toys in baskets that will be delivered to about 4,000 families facing some hard times this Christmas.
"A lot of times they'll come in at Christmas and have a lot of other needs as well," Koch said.
Like the grandmother whose daughter had just died, leaving behind seven children.
"Can can you imagine the grief of losing a daughter, raising seven grandchildren, and also facing Christmas?" Koch asked.
And the grandmother was behind in her utilities payment.
So Koch got her a food basket, arranged for the children to get toys, enrolled her in the Salvation Army Social Service Program and sent her to another office to get help with her heating bill.
Some people hear of stories like that and are reluctant to send in a small contribution. They figure their $5 or $20 donation won't help.
But those add up.
"It's easier to find 100 people who can donate $5 than to find one person who can donate $500," Koch said.
Koch speaks from experience. He started working for the Salvation Army when he was a teen-ager and continued through his college years.
He received a master's degree in social work from Indiana University.
"Basically, what I've learned is a lot of what I see is attitude than the actions," Koch said. "The actions come from the attitude."
A lot of times in their working lives, people question if they've made the right career choice.
Koch said he gets periodic reinforcement.
"When people get their lives turned around, then I know it's the right decision," he said.
December 21, 2000
