‘It warms my heart’: Volunteers give back during Thanksgiving at Tyler’s Salvation Army

Published 7:00 pm Thursday, November 28, 2024

Bullard resident Aubre Moock says she brought her two daughters Thursday to volunteer at the Salvation Army of Tyler’s annual Thanksgiving meal to teach them the joy of helping others.

“(I hope) for these two to just get a heart for serving others and just being able to love on people for Jesus,” she said.

The Salvation Army offers a free meal each Thanksgiving and this year had more volunteers than needed.

Salvation Army of Tyler Capt. Jeremy Walker said he was appreciative of the volunteer turnout.

“It’s a day that most people are home with their families … but they’ve taken some time out of their schedule to help those that are in need right now that might not have a nice, warm place to eat, or even a warm meal,” he said. “It warms my heart.”

Paula Shade, 68, volunteered for the first time Thursday. In the past, she said she rang bells for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle program.

“I would say, do it,” she said. “If you have the opportunity to do it, it’s very fulfilling.”

Gary Bonds, 81, used to volunteer at The Salvation Army in Midland-Odessa. He said he does it because “it’s something that’s needed” and makes him feel good.

Hawkins resident Kristty Brown helped deliver Thanksgiving meals. She offered to volunteer because her daughter is in the National Honor Society and needed volunteer hours.

For Brown, being able to volunteer with her daughter is special.

“You only get so much time,” she said.

Brown sees volunteering as a “huge blessing” because people don’t realize how lucky and blessed they are.

“It’ll change your life. It’ll change your opinion. It’ll soften your heart, seeing and knowing what others don’t have,” she said.

Retired teacher and Tyler resident Kenneth Bickham, 65, said she volunteering because he gets to help others, see their smiles and do God’s work.

He said he is often smiling, which prompts people to ask him why.

“I came here to help others and let them know how good God is by letting my light shine so that the people can see God and me, and you can ask me why I do what I do, and because of God,” Bickham said.

The Salvation Army of Tyler received free Greenberg Smoked Turkeys for Thursday’s meal.

Walker said he is grateful for the community’s support and encourages people to donate so the nonprofit organization can keep serving people.

Through the Angel Tree and Red Kettle programs, the Tyler Salvation Army hopse to raise $389,000. Donations have been slow so far.

“It’s definitely a slow start, so we need people to get in the spirit, drop some dimes, drop some quarters, drop some checks and dollar bills and, and get out and help their neighbors,” Walker said.

To learn more about The Salvation Army, visit facebook.com/SalvationArmyTyler/ or call (903) 592-4361.