The fairy garden tucked beside the front steps of the Salvation Army Greene County Service Center at 131 W. First Street Waynesburg is a first hint that the services here can turn frowns to smiles.
Service Center Director Bonnie Davis of Brave, who just celebrated her first year of service in late July, is all smiles as she remembers finding her dream job posted on Facebook. She admits she once needed help with an electric bill to avoid termination and Salvation Army came to the rescue. Accepting this job seemed like a heaven sent way to pay it forward. “When I started here, Sister Audrey Quinn had already retired and [part time worker] Jessie Moats and two volunteers were keeping the warehouse open.” Looking at her desk covered with papers and files, she laughed. “I didn’t have a clue what to do first! I’m so grateful to Sister Audrey – I called her and she came right down and got me going. If I need help all I have to do is pick up the phone. We also have a wonderful board that is very supportive of all we do.”
The people and families helped since she started the job have been tallied – more than 100 households got utility assistance like Davis once did and 50 people were able to avoid evictions and homelessness. About five medication and funeral costs were aided and at least ten were able to secure emergency lodging for the homeless or those in crisis from 911. “The State Police and 911 send these emergencies straight to my cell phone now, whenever they happen. Our objective is to meet with each client and assess their individual situation and immediate needs. When needed we connect them to other community networks to better equip them with the tools to manage if not avoid, such situations in the future,” Davis said. ”We’re here for those of you who need us.”
Emergency food boxes go out to approximately 20 people a week and to date five Thanksgiving and at least five Christmas blessing food boxes will be given this year.
Davis points out the mission of the Salvation Army goes back to William Booth, who took the gospel directly to the streets of London in 1852, preaching to “the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the destitute.” When fellow clergy took issue, he and his wife Catherine left the church and began to train an army of evangelists known as the Christian Mission. Members of this volunteer army became known as Salvationists and by the beginning of the 20th century their mission had spread worldwide. Today it’s active in 131 countries “offering the message of God’s healing and hope to all those in need.”
Davis keeps a list of favorite gospel instructions on her desk for inspiration. It includes some plain talking from Luke 6:38: “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
That measure is on full display in the warehouse where donated clothing, household goods and groceries fill every corner. Today, Jessie Moats and volunteer Donna Leposky are busy opening bags and sorting in the corner by the back door while not documenting shoppers.
The Food Pantry’s emergency food is supplied by Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank and weekly truckloads of donated Aldi bread and produce are available for walk ins who come to shop. Loaves of sourdough and rye bread are there for the taking today, along with some butternut squash. At least a dozen shoppers are browsing the racks and inspecting the holiday ornaments that just got put out.
Between 60 and 70 people a day come to shop, Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Davis said. “People can only shop once a week so you can see how many people use our services.” Her daughter Abbigail, a senior at Central Greene, volunteers almost daily as her community service project and, yes the fairy garden was her creation, Abbi admits with a grin. “Have you seen the fairy gardens at Mason Dixon Park? I helped make them with my Nan, Mary Davis.”
The Angel Tree on the counter by the sign-in sheet has 300 tags and all have been adopted. “IRON SYNERGY took 125, EQT took 80 and church organizations got the rest,” Davis said. New this year is Adopt a Teen for the 13 to 18 year olds as they age out of being on the Angel Tree. “They need many things at that age and I feel they shouldn’t be forgotten, especially at Christmas. We have 20 teens this year to adopt. Give me a call.”
Davis is delighted that “Waynesburg Rotary paid for every child who went to Camp Allegheny this year. That was awesome! And this summer the Warrior Trail invited me to speak because they didn’t know much about the Salvation Army. Now they’re willing to help however they can.”
Davis also praises Pat Bristor and her Bonner volunteers from Waynesburg University who help with the yearly spring and fall flea markets that help pay the bills and keep the winter bundle up project going. This year the program helped 62 youth and three seniors stay warm. “We depend solely on donations and grants, so we’re always fundraising. Our biggest fundraiser of the year is the Red Kettle. We raised $35,000 last year and it all stays in Greene County. Without that money we couldn’t do this.” The Red Kettle will be back on Candy Cane Lane for Holiday Open House so stop by and donate or sign up to volunteer, Davis urges. “We need ringers for all our sites starting November 30 through December 23. We’ve put out a special request to churches that have youth programs and we’re happy to have you on our team, even if you can only ring one shift on one day.”
To contact Davis call the Service Center number 724-852-1479 any time and Davis will get back to you on her cell “as soon as I can. My phone gets pretty hot this time of year!”