Retiree Carmen Knapp has dedicated much of her life to volunteering at The Salvation Army.<\/p>\n
She first started volunteering through The Salvation Army Roblin Lake Children\u2019s Summer Camp in 1982 where she worked in the kitchen, as a camp counselor, craft director and nurse. \u00a0Carmen spent 25 years working at the summer camp until its closure. .<\/p>\n
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 \u00a0at the food bank and answering after hours calls.\u00a0 She continued this work off and on for 26 years.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 During Christmas she was always helping prepare meals in the kitchen and she loves to help during the Christmas Kettle Campaign. \u00a0Carmen\u2019s volunteer work didn\u2019t stop there; over the years she also taught Sunday school, junior soldiers and led the ladies craft and coffee group.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer 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,\u201d\u00a0said Major Catherine Brown-Ratcliffe. \u201cShe is a caring connection and source of outreach for many in our congregational family as well as those on the fringe.\u00a0 Carmen has been invaluable to the mission and ministry of the church and CFS.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n