July 21, 2025 • 5 mins
Joel and Kathleen Ashcraft were both born in Ohio to Salvation Army officer parents. As transition is inevitable in The Salvation Army, they both moved and grew up in the greater New York City area. They have been officers of The Salvation Army for the last 10 years, most recently serving as the Divisional Youth Secretary and Divisional Candidates Secretary for the Northeast Ohio Division based out of Cleveland, Ohio. They coordinated youth work and lead the candidacy efforts for Salvation Army officership across the Division. Throughout the summer, they had the distinct privilege of running Camp NEOSA on beautiful Leesville Lake in Carrollton, OH. Prior to moving to Cleveland, they were corps officers in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY, and loved every minute of their 5 years there. It is their heart’s cry to see everyone they serve come to know the abundance of life available through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
As the Area Commanders for Greater Cleveland Area Services, Captains Ashcraft will oversee the operations of five Greater Cleveland Corps in Collinwood, East Cleveland, Miles Park, Ohio City, and West Park. Additionally, they will supervise all operations at Harbor Light Complex & Zelma George Family Shelter.
Outside of their professional lives, Joel and Kathleen can be found spending time with their three incredible children – Matthew , Evelyn , and Audrey. As a family, they love cheering on Matty at his baseball and basketball games, rooting for Evelyn and Audrey in their soccer games, trying new foods, and taking family trips! Joel is an avid sports fan, and Kathleen loves watching the newest murder mysteries and romantic comedies.
Joel and Kathleen began dating when they were just 16-year-old high school sweethearts and were married shortly after graduating college. Prior to their service as officers in The Salvation Army, Joel worked in banking for M&T Bank, and Kathleen worked in property management for The Salvation Army. Joel and Kathleen hold master’s degrees in business administration from Asbury University.
As the Area Commanders for Greater Cleveland Area Services, Captains Ashcraft will oversee the operations of five Greater Cleveland Corps in Collinwood, East Cleveland, Miles Park, Ohio City, and West Park. Additionally, they will supervise all operations at Harbor Light Complex & Zelma George Family Shelter.
Outside of their professional lives, Joel and Kathleen can be found spending time with their three incredible children – Matthew , Evelyn , and Audrey. As a family, they love cheering on Matty at his baseball and basketball games, rooting for Evelyn and Audrey in their soccer games, trying new foods, and taking family trips! Joel is an avid sports fan, and Kathleen loves watching the newest murder mysteries and romantic comedies.
Joel and Kathleen began dating when they were just 16-year-old high school sweethearts and were married shortly after graduating college. Prior to their service as officers in The Salvation Army, Joel worked in banking for M&T Bank, and Kathleen worked in property management for The Salvation Army. Joel and Kathleen hold master’s degrees in business administration from Asbury University.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We normally think of the Salvation Army at the holiday time,
you know, the ringing of the bell and all that,
and it's in the movies and that sort of thing. Well,
guess what, need knows no season, and especially in summertime.
There was a need when it comes to the Salvation
Army and the work they do that was started by
William Booth back back in England so many years ago
as he walked around with soup and soap and just
(00:22):
trying to help those in need. I've got Captain Joel
Ashcroft with me with the Salvation Army of Cleveland kind
of joined me for a few minutes to talk more
about this and the campaign and what the work of
the Army is all about. Captain my brother, thank you
so much for your time.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Good to have you on so good this year, and
talk to you again today. Bill. How's everything we're doing?
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Well? Yeah? I mentioned William Booth and real quick for
people as they say we think of the Army with
the bell and that sort of thing, and I mean
he started a movement. God started this through him. So
many have been called to be a part of the army.
As you were right, your family, talk about your journey
here first some a bit.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Joel, Sure, So I actually grew up in and around
the Salvation Army for most of my life. My parents
were ordained ministers within the Salvation Army, and so I
got involved with helping people at an early age and
caught the bug and really felt like the Lord was
asking me to step in and to do more for
the community around me than I was doing in my
(01:17):
other job. And so I left that and entered into
the Salvation Army's training school and became a minister in
the Salvation Army. And now I spend most of my time,
most of my day finding ways that we can help
the community around us and provide hopes to folks who
just need it the absolute most and the beautiful, beautiful life.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
I have said over the years of Salvation Armies truly
the safety net in so many ways in the community
that is really challenged as society is nowadays. We look
around at that there seems to be so much hurting now, Joel, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
You know, we look around at especially here in Cleveland. Right.
We know the statistics that exist here in Cleveland, where
so many folks are food insecure, one out of every
four kids, right, We know that it's the second poor
city in the nation, with a poverty rate of nearly
one out of every three people. There's hurt, there's real need,
(02:07):
and so that's why the Salvation Army exists. We are
here to step in and fill the gap for folks
who can't do it for themselves, and to make sure
that everyone gets an opportunity to step into a bit
of a better life.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
You know, it's not kid's fault in so many ways,
as they have been born into whatever poverty or whatever
their situation is with their family. So let's talk about
those kids in summertime in a couple of ways. I
know the Army is reaching out and trying to give
them some things when it comes to summer and camp
and that sort of stuff, right right, Joel.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, So we have really two huge things going on.
We have the Salvation Armies Campaniosa, which is run out
of Carrollton, Ohio, and we send a couple hundred kids
down there every single summer, provide all the transportation and
make sure that they get a week away from the
hot concrete of Cleveland and get out into nature. And
then in these Cleveland we also actually have a summer
(02:58):
day Camp, which is free of charge to the kids.
So for the full summer we're taking them. We're bringing
them into the community center, and we're giving them lots
of opportunity with some education, giving them arts training, and
then also having a lot of fun going to a
Guardian's game. They're going to Cedar Points a little bit later,
they had a water party at the building. So there's
a lot of fun happening in the Salvation Army this
(03:19):
entire summer for kids.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Some of the basic needs of kids aren't meant when
it's not a school session, because I mean basically breakfast,
they get meals at school through the summer. You're trying
to help out in different neighborhoods in that way as well,
is that right?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yeah, So we're strategically placed across the entire city of Cleveland.
We've got West Park at Ohio City on the west
side of the city, We've got Miles Park down there
on the south, and then we've got one in Collinwood
and one in East Cleveland on the east side of
the city. So we're really covering every zip code of
Cleveland making sure that kids have somewhere to go. And
(03:53):
you're right, you know throughout the summer, that's when kids
experience the most significant level of food insecurity because they're
not in school, and so our Salvation Armies are providing
hot meals to families and kids and making sure that
during the summer, where they would typically get their food
at school, they can come in, they can see us,
and we'll make sure they get a nutritious meal to
(04:14):
fill up their belly and keep them going throughout the summer.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Captain Joel Asker off the Salvation Army with me for
another minute. Okay, we've talked about the need, We've talked
about the work we as a community need to help
you as you're helping us in the community. And really
that's what this campaign this summer is all about.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
With need no season, that's right, This entire summer we're
really focusing on and trying to get the message after
that need indeed knows no season. And so most of
the folks think about us as the folks with the
red bell, right, you hear us at Christmas, you hear
the iconic red bell ringing. But we want to remind
folks that we're in the community three hundred and sixty
(04:51):
five days a year. The entire year long effort is
us providing for the community. So we're around all summer
and all winter and all fall and all spring, always
making sure that we're in the community. So just a
donation of twenty five dollars can actually provide twenty meals
for a local family and need. So just twenty five
dollars from you goes a really long way in this community.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
We can connect and give online that twenty five dollars too.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Right, absolutely, just go to the Salvation Army Cleveland dot
org and we're able to provide for folks year round.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Salvation Army Cleveland dot org. Please think about it. Salvation
Army Cleveland dot org. Captain Joel Ashgroffin of our Salvation
Army here in Cleveland. Again, it is time to help.
It's time really throughout the year, but especially right now
because need knows no season. My friend, thank you for
your time.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
I appreciate you so much. Bill, God bless you.
We normally think of the Salvation Army at the holiday time,
you know, the ringing of the bell and all that,
and it's in the movies and that sort of thing. Well,
guess what, need knows no season, and especially in summertime.
There was a need when it comes to the Salvation
Army and the work they do that was started by
William Booth back back in England so many years ago
as he walked around with soup and soap and just
(00:22):
trying to help those in need. I've got Captain Joel
Ashcroft with me with the Salvation Army of Cleveland kind
of joined me for a few minutes to talk more
about this and the campaign and what the work of
the Army is all about. Captain my brother, thank you
so much for your time.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Good to have you on so good this year, and
talk to you again today. Bill. How's everything we're doing?
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Well? Yeah? I mentioned William Booth and real quick for
people as they say we think of the Army with
the bell and that sort of thing, and I mean
he started a movement. God started this through him. So
many have been called to be a part of the army.
As you were right, your family, talk about your journey
here first some a bit.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Joel, Sure, So I actually grew up in and around
the Salvation Army for most of my life. My parents
were ordained ministers within the Salvation Army, and so I
got involved with helping people at an early age and
caught the bug and really felt like the Lord was
asking me to step in and to do more for
the community around me than I was doing in my
(01:17):
other job. And so I left that and entered into
the Salvation Army's training school and became a minister in
the Salvation Army. And now I spend most of my time,
most of my day finding ways that we can help
the community around us and provide hopes to folks who
just need it the absolute most and the beautiful, beautiful life.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
I have said over the years of Salvation Armies truly
the safety net in so many ways in the community
that is really challenged as society is nowadays. We look
around at that there seems to be so much hurting now, Joel, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
You know, we look around at especially here in Cleveland. Right.
We know the statistics that exist here in Cleveland, where
so many folks are food insecure, one out of every
four kids, right, We know that it's the second poor
city in the nation, with a poverty rate of nearly
one out of every three people. There's hurt, there's real need,
(02:07):
and so that's why the Salvation Army exists. We are
here to step in and fill the gap for folks
who can't do it for themselves, and to make sure
that everyone gets an opportunity to step into a bit
of a better life.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
You know, it's not kid's fault in so many ways,
as they have been born into whatever poverty or whatever
their situation is with their family. So let's talk about
those kids in summertime in a couple of ways. I
know the Army is reaching out and trying to give
them some things when it comes to summer and camp
and that sort of stuff, right right, Joel.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, So we have really two huge things going on.
We have the Salvation Armies Campaniosa, which is run out
of Carrollton, Ohio, and we send a couple hundred kids
down there every single summer, provide all the transportation and
make sure that they get a week away from the
hot concrete of Cleveland and get out into nature. And
then in these Cleveland we also actually have a summer
(02:58):
day Camp, which is free of charge to the kids.
So for the full summer we're taking them. We're bringing
them into the community center, and we're giving them lots
of opportunity with some education, giving them arts training, and
then also having a lot of fun going to a
Guardian's game. They're going to Cedar Points a little bit later,
they had a water party at the building. So there's
a lot of fun happening in the Salvation Army this
(03:19):
entire summer for kids.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Some of the basic needs of kids aren't meant when
it's not a school session, because I mean basically breakfast,
they get meals at school through the summer. You're trying
to help out in different neighborhoods in that way as well,
is that right?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yeah, So we're strategically placed across the entire city of Cleveland.
We've got West Park at Ohio City on the west
side of the city, We've got Miles Park down there
on the south, and then we've got one in Collinwood
and one in East Cleveland on the east side of
the city. So we're really covering every zip code of
Cleveland making sure that kids have somewhere to go. And
(03:53):
you're right, you know throughout the summer, that's when kids
experience the most significant level of food insecurity because they're
not in school, and so our Salvation Armies are providing
hot meals to families and kids and making sure that
during the summer, where they would typically get their food
at school, they can come in, they can see us,
and we'll make sure they get a nutritious meal to
(04:14):
fill up their belly and keep them going throughout the summer.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Captain Joel Asker off the Salvation Army with me for
another minute. Okay, we've talked about the need, We've talked
about the work we as a community need to help
you as you're helping us in the community. And really
that's what this campaign this summer is all about.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
With need no season, that's right, This entire summer we're
really focusing on and trying to get the message after
that need indeed knows no season. And so most of
the folks think about us as the folks with the
red bell, right, you hear us at Christmas, you hear
the iconic red bell ringing. But we want to remind
folks that we're in the community three hundred and sixty
(04:51):
five days a year. The entire year long effort is
us providing for the community. So we're around all summer
and all winter and all fall and all spring, always
making sure that we're in the community. So just a
donation of twenty five dollars can actually provide twenty meals
for a local family and need. So just twenty five
dollars from you goes a really long way in this community.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
We can connect and give online that twenty five dollars too.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Right, absolutely, just go to the Salvation Army Cleveland dot
org and we're able to provide for folks year round.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Salvation Army Cleveland dot org. Please think about it. Salvation
Army Cleveland dot org. Captain Joel Ashgroffin of our Salvation
Army here in Cleveland. Again, it is time to help.
It's time really throughout the year, but especially right now
because need knows no season. My friend, thank you for
your time.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
I appreciate you so much. Bill, God bless you.
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