SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — Sorting donations is just one of the many things Michelle Ewing does as a volunteer for the Salvation Army in the Santa Clarita Valley
She started volunteering 26 years ago when she joined a moms’ group.
“This moms’ group was all about community service, so we started doing things for the community back then,” said Ewing.
Ewing’s friend Rebecca Berens also started volunteering before being hired to head the adopt-a-family or angel tree program. But lately, they don’t have enough volunteers to keep up with demand.
“We have over 300 kids and 80-something seniors that still need to be adopted, and we’re two weeks before Christmas,” Berens said.
It’s not just holiday programs that are suffering, said Capt. Rafael Viana, the officer in charge of the Salvation Army in the Santa Clarita Valley.
“We need volunteers for driving,” he said. “We need volunteers for sorting. We need volunteers who have good customer service experience to help at the front desk when the clients come in.”
Viana said every program is in dire need of volunteers right now — even something as simple as sorting food in their food pantry. It’s a program that helps feed 400 people per week.
“In order for us to be able to serve the community the best way, we need the help of the community coming in and giving back as well,” he said.
For Ewing, her journey as a volunteer started as a way to be an example to her children.
“It wanting to show my kids what it’s like to give to people less fortunate than us,” she said.
Over the years, Ewing has realized that giving to others also gives her a feeling of happiness.
To learn more about how you can help, please visit here or call 661-799-5841.