Meet the 2015 Volunteers of the Year
In 2014, volunteers contributed more than 340,000 hours of service to The Salvation Army Northern Division.
The estimated value of the time a volunteer gives in the U.S. is $22.15 per hour. Which means in just one year volunteers donated more than $6.6 million of value to The Salvation Army in Minnesota and North Dakota.
It’s an astounding number. If that doesn’t inspire you, the stories behind those who volunteer just might.
The Northern Division was fortunate to have over 40,000 volunteers in 2014, five of which were selected as Volunteers of the Year. These volunteers have gone above and beyond the call of duty to “preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human need in His name without discrimination.”
Youth volunteer of the year
At 14 years old, he arrived at the Mankato Salvation Army with his parents. Not to volunteer, but because they needed help. They were homeless and found themselves with nowhere else to turn. That summer, they slept in their car in the Army’s parking lot. But every morning, MacDonald would get up before his parents did and walk into The Salvation Army kitchen. His volunteer shift started at 7:30 a.m. He rarely missed a day and would help prepare lunch for the hot meal program.
Leading up to his involvement with The Salvation Army, MacDonald went through his own share of challenges. Not only did he suffer from multiple episodes of homelessness, at one point, he was sentenced to a group home for anger management. These days he’s all smiles and is nothing but appreciative and helpful as a volunteer.
The Salvation Army helped him enroll in at a Mankato high school where he now excels.
Individual volunteer of the year
Those in Fergus Falls came to know the couple as the ones who helped with gasoline, food and clothing. They even opened their home to people who didn’t have anywhere else to go.
Every Sunday you could find them in The Salvation Army kitchen, along with their daughter, preparing lunch. The pair shared their love for each other, for God and for helping people in need.
On Mother’s Day 2008, Melanie’s husband died in a car accident traveling home from work. But out of his tragic death, something beautiful happened. Melanie grew even closer to the Lord and her Salvation Army family.
Today, she keeps her husband’s memory alive by continuing to help the lost and the hurting.
Melanie volunteers more than 20 hours per week saying, “that’s what Jesus would do.”
Family volunteer of the year
This past Christmas the couple volunteered as bell ringers and helped raise more than $40,000 in their rural community.
Every year on Christmas and Easter, they coordinate visits to nearly 300 seniors, bringing love and gifts to them.
Carol coordinates our duffle bag program, baby layette program, and back-to-school program, which benefit more than 600 children each year.
The duffle bag program is a partnership with Beltrami County child protection services. Sometimes a child is removed from a home with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. The Salvation Army duffle bag has personal care items, a fleece blanket and a stuffed animal. It’s something that the child can call their own as they go to their new home thanks to Carol and other volunteers.
The baby layette program is a partnership with the maternity ward at a hospital in Bemidji. Once in a while, mothers give birth and do not have any supplies for their new baby. They are given a small diaper bag from The Salvation Army with a blanket, onesies, an outfit, and a small bag of diapers.
To truly understand this couple’s teamwork and dedication, it’s helpful to understand the challenges they have overcome.
Throughout their marriage they were honored and privileged to be foster parents to a lot of children. However, nearly 14 years ago, they were viciously attacked by the boyfriend of one of their foster daughters and in a moment their lives were changed forever.
The attack left Gene near death and Carol forever in a wheelchair. Despite this, they have not let that moment define them or how they live. They continue to give back in their community in so many ways.
They define what it means to be a family, a team, and a couple that lives their faith in all that they do, passionate about The Salvation Army and its mission— “preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and meeting human needs in His name without discrimination.”
Organization volunteer of the year
The Salvation Army does not have an office in this part of the state. So the WCMCA allows staff and volunteers to use their facility and office equipment.
When The Salvation Army disaster services team needed a shed to store supplies, WCMCA allowed them to put one on their property. Having a shed to store tools and supplies has greatly improved The Salvation Army’s response time to disasters.
Grant County is much stronger and safer, thanks to the WCMCA’s partnership with The Salvation Army. Together, we are keeping our promise to do the most good.
Lifetime service award
McLarnan has helped with countless programs and events over the years, including the hot meal program.
He enjoys serving lunch and volunteers at least twice a month. He takes special pride in getting people to eat their vegetables and coaxes smiles from the diners by joking, “If they don’t eat their vegetables, they can’t have dessert!”
He faithfully brings in friends and colleagues to serve lunch alongside him. One of his friends, a local business owner, had tears in his eyes after hearing stories about how the Army helps people in our community.
McLarnan has been an attorney for 50 years. For the last ten years, he’s also donated his time volunteering at the legal aid office once a week.
“I’ve enjoyed volunteering at The Salvation Army so much,” he said. “it’s been a big part of my life. I like to think that, to describe it, I’ve had a lifelong love affair with The Salvation Army and the people.”