The Power of A Hat
Last year I received a hat with an outline of The Salvation Army red shield embroidered on it and the words #LoveBeyond. This isn’t an unusual gift because I work there. The hats were given away at a large department meeting, and I was so excited because I wear a hat all the time on weekends. But it wasn’t long until I noticed that wearing it changed how people reacted to me.
The first thing I saw were the great big smiles. People just seemed friendlier. Was it my imagination? When I wear that hat, I’ve noticed that more people try to make eye contact with me and engage in conversation. They usually break the ice by asking, “Are you with The Salvation Army?”
Each time I put that hat on, it feels like I’m participating in a mini social experiment. I don’t know what might happen, and that’s part of the fun. I’ve noticed that just seeing someone who represents The Salvation Army makes others want to share their personal stories. What a blessing it has been to stop and listen!
One couple told me about the emergency assistance their family received following a house fire. I hugged a father who cried while recounting his son’s struggle with addiction and praised our Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) for changing his life. Volunteer bellringers stop me, too. They want to talk about their experiences standing next to the red kettles every Christmas and inquire about officers they knew.
I’ve met so many wonderful people while going about my daily activities…because of that hat. Walking my dogs, running errands, getting books at the library, even simple trips around town have led to some personal, heartwarming conversations. And sometimes I’m called on to lend a hand. Like the day I became a personal shopper for an elderly woman with limited mobility.
She was seated in an electronic scooter near the dairy case in a grocery store. I was a few feet away, looking for my favorite coffee creamer, when she shouted, “You there! Do you work for The Salvation Army?” I told her I did. She explained that she couldn’t reach something and asked me to get it. Then she began reading out all the other things that were on her list. Dutifully, I put my own shopping on hold and placed each item in her cart.
Why? Because she needed help. Also to reaffirm the positive experience she must have had with The Salvation Army at some point in her life. She recognized the logo and felt comfortable asking for assistance, and I wanted to safeguard her memory of our services and programs—and our brand—through my words and actions. It only took a few minutes, and it felt so good.
May this be a reminder to everyone who receives and uses branded items from their employer. You are an extension of the place where you work.
Patricia Sims is the Territorial Media & Content Director at The Salvation Army USA Central Territory. To learn more about the programs and services we offer in the Midwest, visit our website. Or click to learn about donor and volunteer opportunities.