As the holiday season approaches, the Salvation Army in Columbia is actively seeking volunteers to support its various holiday programs.
“We are excited to start the holiday season, but that does mean that we do have a lot of programs a lot of volunteer activity going on,” said Maj. Merrill Powers, director of Salvation Army Boone County.
Among the programs being offered are red kettle bell-ringing, the Angel Tree initiative, and the serving of meals on both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
“Probably our greatest need for volunteers is for our bell-ringing at our kettles,” Powers said.
In addition to bell-ringing, there is a significant need for volunteers to assist with toy distribution.
“We have two days we’ll be distributing that we’ll need a lot of people to make sure that we can serve everybody and get them in the building and out of here quickly with their toys,” Powers said.
Powers acknowledged that volunteer numbers have declined in recent years, and the organization is actively working to strengthen its volunteer base with the support of the broader community.
“We have continual volunteers who are here every year, but we just need to start increasing those numbers as we change and our programs develop,” Powers said.
The Salvation Army is aiming to increase its volunteer participation by 20% compared to the previous year. Red kettles are expected to appear at approximately 20 store locations beginning this weekend.
“The more people we have, the more strength we’re going to get in our kettle program,” Powers said.
Bell-ringing shifts are available Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with each shift lasting two hours. Volunteers have the flexibility to commit to as many hours as they choose.
“You can ring two hours or you can ring four, six, as many hours as you would like to ring,” Powers said.
Volunteering opportunities are open to all members of the public, and further information regarding how to get involved can be found on the Salvation Army’s official website.
