By: Linda Grattafiori

This holiday season marks Amy Clarke’s 13th year serving as office manager for the Salvation Army. Her sunny, shoulder-length hair swings back and forth as she moves lithely around her office explaining the functions of the shelter and thrift store, showing a shoebox of “collectibles” from the kettles during the past 12 years while admiring a computerized slideshow of Reverend Richard Marshburn dancing with his red kettle bell.

In the past, during grueling 11-hour stints beside the Salvation Army red kettles, Reverend Marshburn has solicited up to $1,000 a day to help the homeless. This year he promises to hone his bell-ringing appeal because donations are down 25 percent—and folks seeking shelter are up 25 percent.

“I received a phone call from Rev. Marshburn this morning,” Amy, who has hired 90 people to ring bells for 33 different locations, said. “He was at a follow-up appointment at the eye doctor. When his exam was over, he found one of his car tires was flat. He called to let me know he would be a little late to ring the bell.”

In spite of overcoming serious eye problems, Rev. Marshburn is one of the faithful dozen or so bell-ringers who hangs in there for the full six weeks.

“I was ringing the bell a little after noontime today,” he said. “I come from a high-energy family, and we believe in letting everyone know that they’re worthy of the love of God.”

The Salvation Army, a Protestant church based on religious principles, began in 1880, operates in 111 countries and provides services in 175 languages. It is one of the world’s largest providers of social aid. In 2004 it helped more than 32 million people in the United States alone.

Major Butch Mallard, minister of the Salvation Army church in Wilmington, says unemployment and mortgage foreclosures are forcing more people to seek aid. Last year the Salvation Army helped 65,000 people in the five-county area. This year more than 75,000 will ask for help.

The Salvation Army shelter and social services is located at 820 North 2nd Street, and houses 54 men, women and children on a good-weather night. On a bad-weather night, mats are placed on the floor to shelter an additional 20 people. Since the beginning of 2008, more than 600 men and some 300 women plus children have found housing and a warm breakfast at the Salvation Army shelter.

The shelter has a zero-tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol. Any time residents go in or out, they must use the breathalyzer. If they blow anything other than double zeros, they have to leave. After the first two weeks, residents pay $8 per day to help cover costs. They can stay for 90 days.

Upon joining the Homeward Bound program, if so desired, residents will have a full-time case manager. She meets with residents one-on-one, and helps set goals, arrange life-skill classes and move them back into society.

“People separate themselves from the homeless,” Amy said. “They think the typical homeless person is that dirty man wearing a trench coat sleeping on the side of the street. And I just want people to know that’s not true. People at the shelter are just like you and me, but they’ve suffered a great loss.”

The purpose of the Salvation Army’s three thrift stores is to counter that loss and provide people with economically priced clothing, furniture and other staples for setting up a new household. The stores’ profits go back into outreach programs.

Angel cards on the Salvation Army’s annual trademark angel tree are waiting to be picked at Independence Mall. A girl or boy’s first name and clothing size is on each card. Shoppers come by, pull off a card, and record their name and the child’s name in a book provided by a volunteer. After shopping the gift is returned to the volunteer unwrapped. The child’s mother is allowed to decide whether the gift will be from Santa or from the child’s family. On December 19th, families who have applied for help go to the thrift store to shop and pick up the unwrapped gift as well.

The busiest week for the thrift stores is the week after Christmas when people donate used clothing, furniture and household goods to make room for the new. Volunteers are needed to help this week run smoothly and donations to help more people survive on less are sorely needed.

If a fat, tax-deductible donation is out of reach, please consider giving generously each time the kettle bell rings.

This feature is dedicated to Anna Avelone Harkinson, who’s knitted many caps for the homeless, served several years in shelter kitchens and filled countless hearts with love.