Volunteer fights for good inside of prisons
Darla Bohn helps The Salvation Army fight for good.
Darla is a 59-year-old volunteer from Lakeville with a passion for prison ministry. She regularly mentors women coming out of prison, through a Salvation Army program called Aftercare Support. She helps the women find jobs, connects them to resources, and offers a listening ear.
“I help these women make changes so that they can become productive members of society,” Darla said. “I believe this is part of what we are called to do as people and as Christians.”
She also helps women who are still inside of prison. She writes letters to them and she helps lead Salvation Army Toy Lift – a program that provides Christmas gifts to children who have an incarcerated parent. The gifts arrive to each child with no hint that The Salvation Army is involved. (Pictured at right: Toy Lift volunteers wrap gifts.)
“It means so much to prisoners to be treated like humans,” said Darla, who recently won The Salvation Army’s National Award of Excellence for her work as a corrections volunteer. “Some people ask me, ‘Why on earth do you want to help prisoners?’ I believe that if we, as Christians, have accepted forgiveness from God, how can we not look at everyone else and offer them forgiveness, too?”
Darla started volunteering for The Salvation Army in 1994. Since then, she has performed all kinds of activities: disaster relief, phone banks, data entry, sorting kettle money, and much more.
“My goal was to try one new volunteer opportunity every year to get a good feel for what services The Salvation Army provides,” Darla said.
She encourages others to volunteer and help The Salvation Army fight for good.
“There’s something for everyone, no matter your comfort level,” Darla said. “And you don’t have to do something big or make a lifelong commitment. It’s just about doing something.”
Poverty is an everyday battle that families don’t always win. Thankfully, there is an army of loving people like you who fight on their behalf. Your generosity puts food on their table, presents under their tree, and joy in their hearts. Join the fight for good by donating online or at a red kettle, becoming a volunteer bell ringer, or recruiting your own army of fundraisers at FundraiseForGood.org.