After a few years’ absence at Eastern’s Getting Involved in Volunteer Efforts fair, the Salvation Army joined about 25 other organizations to recruit students and encourage them to volunteer Wednesday.

Rachel Fisher, the director of the Student Community Service, said the goal of the event is to get people involved and show them the organizations they can help, but it is also a networking opportunity for the organizations involved.

“I can tell a student about how great an organization is, but for them to meet them on a face-to-face basis is so much better,” Fisher said. “It is almost like a family reunion for us as well where we talk to each other and see how we can plan events together.”

A new member to the volunteer “family” was the Salvation Army, which brought two representatives: Sarah Eddy, a senior organizational and professional development major, and Mindy Willenborg, a volunteer who is the process of becoming the outreach coordinator for the Mattoon Salvation Army location.

Willenborg said the organization had not attended the fair in past years because they did not get much interest the first time around.

The organization focuses on a variety of outreach programs including a church, summer camps, food pantries, thrift stores, clothing closets, school supply drives among others. 

The group is often recognized for the red kettles they use for the Christmas collection program.

“We try to provide whatever the people in our community need, even if it is just free daycare for a few hours,” Willenborg said. “Last week, we had a family with two young children come in who had recently lost their mother.”

She said they were able to provide food and clothing to the family. 

Both Willenborg and Eddy both became involved with organization after attending the church, called the Salvation Army Church.

Eddy has been involved for about 10 years and often wears the uniform associated with the organization.

“The uniform shows what we stand for and makes us easily recognizable,” Eddy said.

Willenborg said she joined because it is the first church she has found that does not judge her for her past mistakes. Willenborg is a single parent, who gave birth at 15.

“They accept me for who I am, flaws and all,” Willenborg said.

Amy Wywialowski can 

be reached at 581-2812

 or alwywialowski@eiu.edu.