Duane Hicks
In anticipation of National Volunteer Week (April 19-25), the Fort Frances Salvation Army held a volunteer appreciation dinner on Friday at the former St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.
After several dozen volunteers enjoyed a Chinese food buffet dinner, the evening’s program—featuring local Capts. Angel and Marlene Sandoval, as well as Capt. Les Marshall, public relations director for Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, and his wife, Capt. Tiffany Marshall—got underway.
“Many people donate money, you donate time, and time is the most precious and valued thing you can bring to the community because you are face-to-face with others, trying to help those in need,” said Capt. Angel, who spoke on the importance of volunteers to the local Salvation Army.
“I can say from the bottom of my heart, ‘Thank you so much,’” he remarked. “We are successful because you help us. We are successful because you raised a hand to those in need.
“Hundreds of families were able to enjoy a Christmas celebration because of your hard work and because of your dedication,” Capt Angel continued. “This dinner is to show our gratitude and appreciation, and I hope you enjoy.”
While volunteers help out year-round, they’re especially needed during the Salvation Army’s annual “Red Shield Appeal,” which is coming up again in May, and even moreso during the Christmas kettle and hamper campaigns.
Thanks to volunteers and the community’s generosity, 210 hampers were given out in December, helping 275 adults, 152 children, and 47 teens at Christmas.
Meanwhile, a total of $17,541 was raised during the Christmas kettle campaign, and more than 200 families either were sponsored or adopted by district residents, businesses, and groups.
Hundreds of toys also were donated at several community events during the Christmas season.
The presentation Friday evening also acknowledged many businesses, sports teams, and organizations that have helped the local Salvation Army in the last year.
Stacy Gosman, family services co-ordinator at the local Salvation Army, gave a brief presentation on what the Salvation Army does. Capt. Les Marshall then spoke about the history of the Salvation Army—and the telling fact that at one point it possibly was going to be named the “Volunteer Army.”
“The whole premise behind the Salvation Army is that there’s not a bunch of employees and paid staff and officers that just do the work,” he noted. “It’s a matter of building relationships and partnerships with community friends such as yourselves.
“We can’t do what we do without volunteers. It’s the truth,” he stressed.
Capt. Marshall noted the Salvation Army’s brand promise is to “give hope today,” and that is as important as ever in these tough economic times.
“When you start worrying and start having concern—and they are legitimate concerns—we start to lose hope, don’t we?” he remarked. “So one of the challenges the Salvation Army has is to continue to give that hope so that people know that there’s more; there’s someone there that will put their arm around them and be there for them.
“That’s what we try to do,” he said, adding the Sandovals, who became Salvation Army officers at the same time he and his wife did, are “very caring and compassionate people.”
Capt. Tiffany Marshall and Capt. Marlene Sandoval did the honours of handing out pins to volunteers who helped out with the 2008 Christmas kettle and hamper campaigns.
While these were, by no means, the only volunteers who helped out during Christmas, the following individuals were especially dedicated during that season and continued to help throughout the year: Edith Rawlins, Jill Pernsky, Curt Summer, and Richard Barrett.
Rawlins also was given a plate as special thanks for her dedication to the Salvation Army. She manned the kettles for four hours each day during this year’s Christmas campaign.
In related news, with the Salvation Army’s “Red Shield Appeal” coming up in May, volunteers are needed for door-to-door canvassing.
Anyone interested can call 274-3871.
