Salvation Army names volunteer of the year
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From those who ring bells and staff the familiar kettles during the holiday season to people who spend time during the warmer months working in the soil at the Salvation Army's Red Shield Community Garden and Urban Farm, volunteers were celebrated at Salvation Army's Williamsport Corps luncheon this week.
In all 18 groups or individuals were recognized for their work.
"We just want to take this opportunity to say thank you for all you do for us whether you are serving on our advisory board...or wherever you might serve, we cannot do the work at the Salvation Army we do without you," said Major Sheryl Hershey, of the Williamsport Corps.
A special recognition was given to James Knight, a volunteer at the Williamsport Corps, who was honored as the Volunteer of the Year for the Salvation Army's Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Division for his service to the local community.
For more than two years James Knight has volunteered over 3,200 hours to the community through his work at the Williamsport Corps of the Salvation Army. Knight, who retired in 2021 as a staff sergeant in the US Army, serving overseas for 40 years, has been honored as the Volunteer of the Year for the Salvation Army's Eastern Pennsylvania & Delaware Division. The announcement was made by Stan Retif, Director Of Advancement for the Salvation Army of Eastern Pennsylvania & Delaware.
In conjunction with National Volunteer Week in April, the Division invited their corps to nominate a volunteer who has gone above and beyond their "duties," according to Laura Templeton, who is in charge of Public Relations & Resource Development, for the Williamsport Corps.
In recommending Knight for this award, it was noted that he is at the local office from "9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. almost every weekday year-round, helping with custodial work, property maintenance, our food pantry operations, packing emergency food boxes, answering phones and greeting the public in person, picking up rescued food weekly, shuttling kettle workers and kettles to and fro, serving as a kettle bellringer himself, and much more."
"Whether it's getting on his hands and knees to deep clean our kitchen before inspection or climbing an extension ladder to replace light bulbs in the chapel (and he does not like heights!), there's virtually nothing Mr. Knight won't do for his "Salvation Army family," as he likes to call the Williamsport Corps officers, staff, and fellow volunteers," according to information from the local Salvation Army.
The statement said that "above all, Mr. Knight likes to bring joy and happiness to people--young, old, and all ages in between."
"Not sure if it's because of his special international military clearances or what, but he's gotten the Easter Bunny to pay visits to our Golden Agers and youth programs several times over the last few years, and he even melted the Grinch's heart to serve the Williamsport community in the name of The Salvation Army! Last but not least, Mr. Knight must have leveraged his international connections to call in a special favor this past Christmas. Somehow, he convinced old Kris Kringle to leave the North Pole during his busiest of seasons and visit with Williamsport children at least five times as part of The Salvation Army's three-week Festival of Trees," the recommendation stated.
The theme for the day was "all volunteers make a difference" and that was evident in the number of people who were recognized for giving their time to further the mission of the Salvation Army.
In his opening remarks, Retif noted that a strong volunteer corps strengthens the work of the Salvation Army Corps.
The group that won the Service Club Bell Ringer Award, Ivy Lodge #106, rang bells every Saturday from Thanksgiving until Christmas from nine in the morning until nine o'clock at night, according to Hershey. Their efforts raised $6,602 for the non-profit.
For his work at the Red Shield Community Garden and Urban Farm, JoJo Potts received a Timothy Heffler Award. Known as the "Mayor of Park Avenue," Potts was instrumental in locating the garden in his neighborhood. The Community Garden Award was given to Rickey Lee for his work at the garden.
In presenting these awards, Sid Furst, who oversees the work at the garden, shared that his morning devotions had highlighted building community.
"Can you believe that? That's what the Community Garden is all about," Furst said.
"We started with 1,000 square feet nine years ago and we're up to 40,000 square feet...It's more than a community garden, it's a community restoration," he said. "Every single day I see God at work."
About 45 volunteers work around 250 hours a month at the garden from early spring until it turns cold, Furst said.
Others who were recognized at the event for their volunteer work in the areas listed are: Angel Tree Award - St. Boniface & St. Lawrence Parishes; Service Club Bell Ringer Award - Ivy Lodge #106; Corporate Bell Ringer Award - Jersey Shore State Bank; Community Partner Award - UPMC; Community Partner Award - Lycoming County Facilities Management; Community Partner Award - EQT Corporation & EQT Foundation; Outstanding Red Kettle Partner - West Branch Association of REALTORS; Outstanding Red Kettle Partner - The Young Industries; Outstanding Red Kettle Partner - Kent Bennett & Family; Outstanding Red Kettle Partner - Jim Webb & The Webb Weekly; Outstanding Counter Kettle Partner - Wengerd's Farm Market; 2023 Festival of Trees People's Choice Award - Wolf Run Veterinary Clinic; 2023 Festival of Trees Best of the Festival Award - Bi-Lo Supply Plumbing & Heating; Outstanding Volunteer - Dearl Miller; Outstanding Volunteer - Scotty Troisi; and the Timothy Heffler Memorial Award - Michael T. Roan.