Belleville Salvation Army Volunteer Serving the Community for 38 Years!

Retiree Carmen Knapp has dedicated much of her life to volunteering at The Salvation Army.

She first started volunteering through The Salvation Army Roblin Lake Children’s Summer Camp in 1982 where she worked in the kitchen, as a camp counselor, craft director and nurse.  Carmen spent 25 years working at the summer camp until its closure. .

After the camp closed Carmen began working in The Salvation Army Thrift Store in Belleville for the next nine years. She then made the switch to working in Community and Family Services where she helped  at the food bank and answering after hours calls.  She continued this work off and on for 26 years.

Carmen also worked in the warm room during the winter nights where she cooked meals and supervised clients that came in from the cold. This was both a paid and volunteer position.  During Christmas she was always helping prepare meals in the kitchen and she loves to help during the Christmas Kettle Campaign.  Carmen’s volunteer work didn’t stop there; over the years she also taught Sunday school, junior soldiers and led the ladies craft and coffee group.

“Her service and dedication both at the Corps and at Community and Family Services is unstinting and remarkable. She will undertake anything that is asked of her and contributes on many levels,” said Major Catherine Brown-Ratcliffe. “She is a caring connection and source of outreach for many in our congregational family as well as those on the fringe.  Carmen has been invaluable to the mission and ministry of the church and CFS.”

Now that Carmen is retired she has stopped working in the warm room but is volunteering with Community and Family Services and in the church office three days a week.

“I like the people at The Salvation Army. They have become like family over the years,” said Carmen. “I like to do anything I can to help improve other people’s lives. I often stop and ask, ‘What would Jesus do?’” 

Carmen says that once people start volunteering and get a taste of it; they love it.

“Volunteering makes me happy and I feel good about it. Its very fulfilling,” she said. “It gives me another reason to get up in the morning.”

Carmen continues to have big plans for the future. She wants to take more Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services courses and eventually serve on the EDS canteen vehicles to support people in need during times  of disaster and crises.

To volunteer with The Salvation Army please visit https://salvationarmy.ca/volunteer/ to register.

Carmen Knapp (Sitting in front)