If you want to lend a helping hand during a time of real need, The Salvation Army is the place to sign up. The Salvation Army in Turlock has volunteers who go out to local stores around town to ring a bell and collect money for the people in need in our area. Volunteers will also serve food on Christmas Day to people who may not have access to a hot meal.

“Major” Debi Shrum, the core officer for The Salvation Army, is very passionate about this time of year. She said it is her favorite time at The Salvation Army because of all the community service the organization provides.

“On Christmas Day we provide a meal for anyone, from anywhere from six hundred to a thousand people. We are feeding people and we are trying to get them pointed in the right direction, so they can make good decisions,” said Shrum.

The volunteers and people working for The Salvation Army are all gearing up for the craziness that comes along with the holiday season. For some of the staff members, the red kettle and bell mean lending a helping hand.
“What it means to me is being a person who wants to help others. That’s really what The Salvation Army is all about, helping people who are in need of assistance whether it’s because of a loss of job, or you know, situations going on in their life that creates that need, that’s what the Salvation Army is here for,” said Neil Weese, the advisory board member of The Salvation Army.

At participating storefronts around town you will see a person standing next to a red kettle and a bell. They are Salvation Army volunteers; Sandra Blair is the volunteer bell ringing coordinator who helps get those people out there and ringing.

“I enjoy working with the people, I enjoy working with the community because I know whatever we do benefits the community,” said Blair.

You can sign up online to volunteer to ring a bell at RegisterToRing.com. The donations go straight to the people in our community who need it most.

If you are willing to lend a helping hand this time of year and you want to make a difference, work with the Salvation Army to help locals who are in need.