It’s been 15 years since Blake Crane hit bottom in his secret battle with alcohol. He had to let his wife in on it, and he needed her to take him to a hospital.
“That was my low point,” he says. While he was in the hospital, Crane’s wife found an adult rehab center in Fort Worth operated by the Salvation Army. Crane sobered up there over three months and got his life in order.
Alcohol almost killed him, Crane, 71, says. Grateful for all who helped him survive and looking to pay it forward, he recently began volunteering at the Salvation Army Fort Worth Mabee Center, serving food in the lunch line at the East Lancaster Avenue shelter.
“He’s helped us with the pantry, he’s helped us to serve. I feel like the helpers enjoy it; they enjoy serving people.”
Norma Fazekas, Salvation Army
The work befits Crane, who spent his career in corporate food service management in California and Dallas.
A furlough in 2020 became a forced retirement five years ago from a job in Addison. Subsequently, Crane struggled through knee surgeries, a torn tendon in his foot and cataract surgery.
“I felt this year I was back on my feet,” he said.
Crane, who lives with his wife in North Richland Hills, began thinking about volunteering earlier this year. That led him to the Salvation Army, where he started volunteering once a week in October. Besides the lunch service, he also helps in the agency’s food pantry.
Welcome to 52 Faces
52 Faces of Community is a Fort Worth Report weekly series spotlighting local unsung heroes. It is sponsored by Central Market, H-E-B and JPS Health Network.
At the end of the year, these rarely recognized heroes will gather for a luncheon where the Report will announce one honoree to represent Tarrant County at the Jefferson Awards in Washington, D.C.
Crane’s work with the Salvation Army has earned him recognition in 52 Faces of Community, Fort Worth Report’s weekly series on unsung heroes making a difference in Tarrant County.
“He’s a very nice guy,” Norma Fazekas, the shelter’s kitchen manager, said. “He’s helped us with the pantry, he’s helped us to serve. I feel like the helpers enjoy it; they enjoy serving people.”
Crane says he sometimes sees his former self in some of the people he meets. That’s helped keep him humble.
“Addicts tend to get full of themselves,” he said. “This is a real grounding experience here.”
He can’t say enough about the Salvation Army. “You’re under distress, and the Salvation Army really provides that bridge to where you really need to get.”
Blake Crane, left, pictured with Norma Fazekas, kitchen manager at the Salvation Army in Fort Worth, began volunteering in the shelter’s lunch serving line earlier this fall. (Scott Nishimura | Fort Worth Report)
After the new year, Crane said he hopes to increase the amount of time he volunteers at the Salvation Army.
“I would expect it to continue over the next three to four years,” he said. “I may do some bell-ringing here in a few weeks.”
Have a little bit of free time on your hands this holiday season? You can register to be a Salvation Army bell-ringer.
Know an unsung hero in Tarrant County?
Tell us about them by filling out the form below.
North Texans can volunteer to bell ring at a Red Kettle location by visiting registertoring.com. Individuals or groups can also encourage friends and families to get involved by hosting a Virtual Red Kettle.
The Salvation Army raises nearly half of its annual revenue during the holidays, through programs such as bell-ringing. To learn more, visit SalvationArmyNorthTexas.org/Christmas.
Last year, the Salvation Army of North Texas:
- Distributed nearly 4 million pounds of food to over 80,000 people in need through its food pantries, shelters and community meals.
- Delivered more than 264,500 nights of shelter.
- Provided addiction recovery services to around 500 individuals.
- Connected nearly 1,600 individuals to permanent and stable housing.
- Served around 400 children through summer camps.
- Gave nearly 78,000 individuals emotional and spiritual care.
Scott Nishimura is a senior editor at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at scott.nishimura@fortworthreport.org.
News decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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