Salvation Army seeks volunteers

MOSES LAKE - As The Salvation Army's holiday fundraising gets underway, organization officials said the success of their efforts depends on number of volunteers they get this year.

Ken Palek, The Salvation Army's Grant County service representative, said the organization is seeking volunteers to ring bells at several kettle stations around town this season.

This year, bell ringing will begin Nov. 26 and go until Dec. 24. Palek said that kettles will be placed at businesses like Safeway, Walmart and other locations.

Last year, Salvation Army collected about $50,000 in donations from kettles around Grant County, he said.

"Bell ringing is a substantial portion of our income, aside from year-round solicitations," Palek said. "And it's by far the hardest."

Palek said finding enough volunteers to man the kettles is a problem Salvation Army faces each holiday season.

"In today's world, everyone is busy." he said. "And it's cold, people don't like to be in the cold."

However, Palek said he hopes to have a good number of volunteers this year, since funding collected during the organization's holiday kettles help fund programs throughout the rest of the year.

"We do vouchers for people in need, if their rent is overdue we help a little, utilities, food, clothing and gas," Palek said. "You can see that happen three or four times a day, and that's how fast we go through money."

Palek said a common misconception is Salvation Army is always financially able to help those in need. He said the organization can only help people in the area if they have raised enough money.

"Everyone thinks we have an unlimited budget because we are a national organization, and that's not the case," Palek said.

Grant County Salvation Army also operates sites in Ephrata and Royal City. Palek said the organization is working on setting up sites in Quincy and George. "I want it to be easier for people in need to get services," he said. "I don't make judgements, if you need it and we have it, then you got it."

Palek, who has been involved with Salvation Army for about four years, said he wishes there wasn't a limit to what the organization could do for people in need in Grant County. Which is why he hopes more community members will get involved this holiday season.

Palek said Salvation Army is also gearing up for its annual giving tree program. About 30 giving trees will be placed in businesses around Moses Lake from Nov. 26 to Dec. 22.

The giving tree program is a way to distribute toys and clothing to the less fortunate children and their families in the Moses Lake area, he said.

It's also a way to give children in need a traditional Christmas experience, Palek said. Community members can purchase items at certain stores and leave them in the giving tree basket, he said.

Salvation Army will collect the donations, wrap the items and distribute it to families the week before Christmas. He said about 650 kids are expected to come to the Salvation Army's distribution event and bring home gifts to put under their tree.

Palek said that families in need sometimes have to forgo having a traditional Christmas, because of financial hardships.

"Adults see that there are more important ways to spend money than toys, but kids don't always see it that way on Christmas," he said.

Palek said the organization needs volunteers to help distribute gifts to families the week of Dec. 17 to Dec. 21. For more information on volunteering, call 509-766-5875.