• Donald Felice

Volunteers: The Army Behind The Army

GEORGETOWN, SC (September 25, 2018) -- It was a call from a friend eighteen years ago that got 83 year-young Louise Walters involved with The Salvation Army of Georgetown, South Carolina. It seems the Corps in Georgetown had an opening on their board and her friend thought Louise would be a great fit.

It didn’t take much convincing, though. “I like The Salvation Army,” Louise says spryly, “They do a lot of good work.”

Louise grew up in Fordland, Missouri. Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of it. “It’s a small town,” says Walters, “We only had 302 people in the whole town.” Fordland may be a small town, but not far down the road was Fordland Air Force Station, where Louise met her husband.

“We could not do what we do without our wonderful volunteers like Louise,” says Major Melissa Scott, Corps officer at the Georgetown, S.C. Corps, “Through the skills and experience they bring to The Army, volunteers like Louise positively impact the lives of those they help. They change lives, uplift families and support communities throughout our nation every day.”

“I’ve volunteered for so many disasters, but 9-11 was something else,” says Walters. “I was there in December. We had some big tents right at the pit where the twin towers fell where we fed first responders and gave out drinks.”

The big tents were a refuge for those crawling and digging through the rubble in the cold, pouring-down December rain. They called the tent the Hard Hat Café. For those men and women working at ground zero, Louise and her fellow Salvation Army volunteers were a constant symbol of hope and help – a relief from the weariness of the tragedy they faced and struggled with each day. Anything and anyone that came out of the pit had to pass by Louise and her fellow volunteers review. And they never missed a chance to aid and encourage and lift those who passed by.

“Three of us Salvation Army volunteers even got our photo at the Hard Hat Café in Time Magazine,” Walters says proudly.

“It’s a mission,” she says firmly. “The Good Lord has work for me to do.”

Louise Walters is hard at work helping people during Hurricane Florence, too. She is part of the combined Salvation Army relief effort that has served a combined 250,000 meals, drinks and snacks to date to those impacted by Hurricane Florence.

From big towns and small, and from all ages and backgrounds, the volunteers of the Salvation Army are often referred to as “the army behind The Army." These volunteers are critical partners in helping The Salvation Army fulfill their promise of "Doing the Most Good." Each year, almost 3.3 million people volunteer their time, talents and resources to assist The Salvation Army's work.

How to Help
The best way to help after a disaster is to make a financial donation. Monetary donations allow disaster responders to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors as the situation continues to be assessed. 

Online: helpsalvationarmy.org

Donate by phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY

Mail checks to: The Salvation Army, P.O. BOX 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301

Please designate '2018 Hurricane Season - Florence' on all checks.

To receive a donation link via text: Text STORM to 51555