So lately, we’ve been working on a big project for the local Salvation Army.

It came together shortly after we got the TUPC website live. Kristi’s grandfather is chairman of the advisory committee at the Modesto Salvation Army, and he asked us at Thanksgiving if we’d be willing to take on their website. A previous attempt by another designer had been stalled since August, and the Modesto SA had no current site. With the holiday giving season firmly underway, they needed something good up now. If the Army folks were amenable, we’d be happy to take on the task.

They happily agreed. So in the last couple of weeks, we’ve been busy gathering our resources and working out design and structure ideas, with an aim at having a basic site up as soon as possible. The first person we thought to call was local Modesto photographer Aaron Draper. Those who attended our wedding may remember him as the guy who took our wedding photos. He’s a great guy and a wonderful photographer, and we knew right off that he was our first choice for assembling the Salvation Army story in pictures. We called, hoped he wasn’t hopelessly slammed already, hoped he’d be willing to lend a pro bono hand for a good cause. Aaron told us simply to pick a time and place and he’d be there.

Over the last few days, the three of us have been showing up at homeless shelters and community breakfasts to do photo shoots, Kristi and I serving mainly to hold lighting equipment and assist any way we could. And Aaron just came up with great stuff.

The Army website isn’t quite ready to go yet – we’re hoping to launch Monday – but we wanted to show his work off here.

This was Frank. We found him at the Salvation Army Berberian Homeless and Transition Shelter here in Modesto, where we spent an evening meeting people. As he said, “I’m just Frank, the only Frank here.”

This was Paul. We met him as we were setting up the shots with Frank, and at first he insisted that he took lousy photos. Kristi knew better, assured him that he’d look great, and next thing we all knew, we were outside the shelter setting up shots in the cold. I love this shot in particular – there’s sadness, determination and a certain nobility in equal measure in that face. Paul is at the shelter most every night, and has been since losing the car that previously served as his home.

This morning we were up bright and early to head downtown for the Saturday morning Salvation Army Breakfast, put on by Trinity United Presbyterian. We were still short one great photo for the website banner, and our last real crack at one before Monday would be the breakfast. So we tooled downtown to the Modesto Citadel, looking for the right photo – the right face – and met Michael. He and his family were there for egg and pancakes, ducking in out of the cold rain for breakfast. Honestly, I don’t know what else to say that the photo doesn’t in its heartbreaking, poignant note.

Turns out that over the last six months, Aaron has been working on a photo essay of the street people of Modesto. To see more of his work, visit DraperPhotography.com. Photos from his street essay can be found on his Facebook page. Thanks for everything, Aaron.

Meanwhile, I’ve said it here before, but I’m saying it again. Give to the Salvation Army. They are good people, and they’re doing needed work. And they need your help.