Salvation Army Unit

Seeking 9 For The 9th

By John Voket

While the loyal contingent of local Salvation Army volunteers is ready to brave whatever weather Mother Nature is dishing out during two weekends in December, the group has a critical need for at least nine additional volunteers to round out their ranks. Anyone responding to their call should plan on donating at least a few hours of time the weekend starting December 9.

Up to seven additional volunteers will be placed at various bell ringer stations around town the following weekend.

“Right now we’re really in need of help, especially during the day Saturday, December 9 – we need nine volunteers to keep all our stations open that day,” said Bell ringer committee co-chair Sylvia Poulin. “We’re also hoping to get a few more volunteers for Friday evening, December 8 and the weekend of the 15th.”

Volunteers will be greeting shoppers and patrons at locations including the CVS, Dunkin’ Donuts and Yankee Liquors on Queen Street, Lexington Gardens and the Pizza Palace on Church Hill Road and at the Stop&Shop in Sand Hill Plaza.

The local service unit is also seeking long-term volunteers willing to serve on the local organization’s board. Unit Secretary Marie Sturdevant said the commitment for a board member is minimal, but quite fulfilling from a philanthropy standpoint.

“Volunteer board members are only required to meet bi-monthly, and only when there is business to do,” Ms Sturdevant said.

She explained that board members are charged with reviewing and endorsing requests for disbursements from funds collected, primarily through the annual bell ringer campaign. The local board also receives and reviews the monthly financial audits that are part of the Salvation Army’s aggressive oversight practices.

This is an area that Ms Poulin is especially attentive to, since she also serves as unit treasurer.

“Ninety percent of the kettle donations made in December go directly to our service unit, which then distributes it here in Newtown,” she said.

James Gordon at the Salvation Army’s regional headquarters in Hartford said donations that are mailed directly to the Salvation Army from private and corporate Newtown donors, as well as donations made through the website are also returned to the local unit at a rate of 90 percent.

Ms Poulin said the organization is partnering with local businesses like the Drug Center of Newtown, helping to provide prescriptions and other health-related supplies to individuals who may not be able to afford the expense. The service unit collaborated recently with the Newtown Lion’s Club to help underwrite the purchase a wheelchair van lift for a local resident.

In all, the Newtown unit expended virtually every cent of more than $10,000 it took in from donations in 2006, Ms Poulin added.

“We helped people pay various utility bills, helped someone pay to get their driver’s license renewed, paid for medical equipment – we even helped pay rent for someone who was facing an eviction,” she said. “Each request for help is carefully evaluated by the board and accounted for to the penny.”

Donations even provided assistance to Kevin’s Community Center, which was in need of medical supplies that the local free clinic distributes directly to patients. While the Newtown unit has helped purchase grocery items for the local food pantry, thankfully donations this year from other sources have kept those shelves stocked.

Anyone who can donate two or three hours or more as a bell ringer December 8 or 9, or the weekend of December 15 and 16 is asked to contact Ms Poulin at 426-6803 as soon as possible. Those interested in being considered for the service unit’s board may call the same number.

Individuals who would like to make a direct or anonymous monetary of food donation can drop that at the Newtown Social Services office at Town Hall South, below and in the rear of the police headquarters at Main and Sugar Streets, or mail contributions to Salvation Army Newtown Service Unit, Town Hall South, 3 Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470.