Salvation Army

Thousands of miles away, an army is attacking Afghanistan, and defending freedom.

Here at home, another army is working diligently, trying to make sure nobody goes to bed hungry.

Anybody who has gone to a grocery store or shopping center during the holidays knows the Salvation Army is responsible for the collection jars at the entrance. But the Army does a lot more than just ring bells.

"I don't think people realize we are a church, first and foremost," said Envoy Randy Neimeyer of the Salvation Army Mat-Su Valley Corps. "That's probably the biggest identity crisis the Army has, both here and nationally. We are a church that offers many community services, not a community service group that has a church."

The Salvation Army has a number of programs available to people who need a little extra help. Two food banks at the local headquarters in Palmer offer two levels of help.

The first is a commodities program, run by the government and facilitated by the local corps. Families in need can pick up a list of goods, ranging from frozen pork to cereal to canned goods.

Each box of food is prepared according to the program's guidelines, which call for certain quantities of certain foods.

Larger families get more food, smaller families get less food -- but nobody goes hungry, and that's the most important thing, Neimeyer said.

The other program is an emergency food bank, to help people get by in times of desperate need.

"The emergency food bank is designed to get a family through three to five days, when they need it most," Neimeyer said.

The Salvation Army is gearing up for its Thanksgiving and Christmas food drives. Neimeyer said he anticipates handing out between 500 and 800 food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as 4,000 toys for the holidays. The food bank, like all nonprofit agencies, is constantly scrambling, trying to find the money to fully operate.

"People don't realize that we have to buy the food, just like everybody else," said Marie Clark, the chairperson of the advisory board. "Donations are very important. They keep it going."

Nearly half of all the turkeys given out at Thanksgiving are donated. A lot of the canned food is donated through can drives held at local schools as well. But the donations don't cover all the food needed.

Donations play a huge role in keeping the Salvation Army functioning. Another commodity is volunteers.

"Last year, we had one lady who volunteered 2,000 hours," Neimeyer said. "We basically have me, my wife and one half-time position here. Every Salvation Army corps is self-supporting.

"A unique part of our organization is that when somebody donates for a certain program, all of that money goes toward it. We can earmark the money specifically for certain programs and services," Neimeyer said.

At the Palmer headquarters, there is a lot more than just a food bank, although that is a primary service. Through the office, volunteers do crafts and lunches with seniors, provide church services, provide information about state agencies, and do referrals from other programs.

Eventually, Neimeyer would like to do financial counseling for people as well -- he spent 20 years as an accountant.

Anyone who would like to volunteer for service at the Salvation Army, including bell ringing, may stop in at the headquarters, at the old Palmer Elks building, or call 745-7079.

Kettle workers are needed for six locations from Nov. 24-Dec. 22, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays. The locations are -- Fred Meyer, two kettles; Wal-Mart, one kettle; Cottonwood Creek Mall, one kettle; Wasilla Carrs-Safeway, one kettle; and Palmer Carrs-Safeway, one kettle.