A time to help those less fortunate

The Salvation Army has had a presence here in Grays Harbor for many years.

Winter is the most difficult time of year for many of our clients and this one is affecting folks more than usual. Heating bills are increasing, food prices are higher than ever, everywhere you look it is just more expensive than just a few months ago and costs are predicted to go even higher.

We are in desperate need of volunteers to ring The Salvation Bells this holiday season. We kick off the bell ringing season the day before Thanksgiving and end on Christmas Eve (Sundays excluded). We will have nine bell-ringing stations. Most locations have bell ringers at their business from noon to 6 p.m. while Safeway and Walmart allow ringers to be there from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Most shifts are two hours in duration. We are looking for anyone or group of folks to ring bells — businesses, churches, Scouts troops, PEO clubs, or other service organizations — or just volunteer on your own.

This is our main fundraiser of the year.

Another chance for you to help us out is at our Hope Market (food bank) that currently operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. It is a self-serve type market, meaning clients are allowed to select the items that best serve their family. Volunteers help stock shelves, sign the clients in and walk with them through the aisles.

The numbers of families we serve is growing weekly and in order to continue helping those in need, the Salvation Army board is looking to add a third day of operating the Hope Market. We don’t want anyone to go hungry.

Please give us a call at 360-533-1062 or stop by at 215 N. G St. in Aberdeen if you can help us with bell ringing or staffing the food bank.

Mike Barkstrom

Aberdeen

Salvation Army Volunteer for 10 years

Let our soldiers know they aren’t forgotten

Our brave soldiers are still fighting and dying for freedom, many thousands of miles from home and many during our Christmas season.

As a collective way to thank them, I’m asking all who are able to donate full Christmas stockings to be sent to our deployed soldiers, through Harrison Family Mortuary.

A list of appropriate items and/or a stocking can be picked up between 9 and 4 p.m. weekdays at Harrison’s, 311 W. Market in Aberdeen. The last date to drop off the full stockings is Dec. 5. Monetary donations to help with the shipping cost are also appreciated.

Linda Schaeffer

Westport