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Director of the Salvation Army, Misty Belcher, gave an interview recently about their work, starting with details about the summer camp they provide. “The summer camp program that we do is June 17 through the 22nd. We take kids to camp, ages seven to 12. We go to Jasper, Georgia, which is called Camp Grandview. It is a Christian camp. But the children love it. And we have a hard time finding kids, you know, to go. But it’s a beautiful place.”

Belcher talked about how trouble finding participants was a recent issue: “We used to have them where they would go at seven and they would go every year until they were too old. But the past few years, it’s getting harder and harder to find kids to be able to go to the camp and it’s no cost.”

She talked about some of the daily activities of the Salvation Army. “We have lots of people that shop here. We help people with food, anytime they’re in need of food, sometimes they are walk-ins. We have canned goods. We are in need of canned goods.”

Belcher mentioned how they helped cover power bills through Project Share. She mentioned Georgia Power customers have the option on their bill to donate to the program. “What they collect in our county, comes back to us. If everybody in the county check that box to donate, if they collected $1,000 for our area, Georgia Power matches that.”

The program is also supported by sales from the store:  “What we make in sales in the store, we also use that for financial assistance.”

When I asked about the needs of the Salvation Army she replied: “Mostly we need the volunteers at Christmas time.” Belcher mentioned that while they could use volunteers in the store, their chief need was when they take donations during Christmas season, when volunteers traditionally ask for contributions in front of Walmart with a red kettle.

She expressed her appreciation for Salvation Army volunteers. “You know, volunteers, they’re the best. They’re not working to make a check, there are doing it from their heart.”

When asked how people can donate, she replied: “They can donate food just by driving up here, coming in the store.” She mentioned monetary contributions can be mailed.

Belcher stated that while their donation area had been closed for a while, it was back open at its normal hours. “People still don’t know the hours that we take donations, and we take those Monday through Saturday, 9-5.” She mentioned that if the gates were closed those wishing to donate can come to the front door.

She also talked about serving the community’s spiritual needs. “Sometimes people, they just need prayer.” Belcher talked about how one memorable moment serving Salvation Army came when someone prayed for her. She told how they were normally the ones providing service or offering prayer. “But she just wanted to pray for me even though she was in need.”