Holiday volunteering

For volunteers Vivian Gallegos and Andrew Husted, Thanksgiving and Christmas mean more than just watching the Macy's Parade or getting gifts from Santa Claus.

Gallegos, of Florence, has given up her Thanksgiving Day for the past three years to help prepare and deliver free Thanksgiving meals at Jen's Cafe in Florence.

"I learned how to volunteer from my parents. We were blessed, and they always told us if you can do something for someone else, do it," she said. "It's the least I can do for everything I've been blessed with."

The holidays are a time of year where organizations are calling on individuals worldwide to donate a little of their time and make someone's holiday more cheerful.

Sandra Miniutti, vice president of marketing for Charity Navigator, a nonprofit organization that evaluates charities in the U.S., said volunteering and charitable giving tend to increase around the holidays.

"The religious nature of the holiday season causes people to be more altruistic," she said. "People are also increasingly overwhelmed with gift-giving, and it causes us to think of others who are less fortunate."

Jennifer Stutts, owner of Jen's Cafe in Florence, said that without volunteers, the annual free Thanksgiving meal event that the restaurant provides might not be possible.

In 2006, the restaurant provided almost 4,400 meals to individuals, utilizing the help of more than 100 volunteers on the day before and the day of Thanksgiving.

"You have to have volunteers to be able to do this," Stutts said. "Some work two hours. Some work all day. There is no time requirement."

This year, Stutts said Jen's Cafe is preparing close to 5,500 meals, so more volunteers will be needed to help prepare food, do dishes, deliver meals and perform other duties.

"I do it because it's fun," said Husted, a junior at Florence High School. "I still go home and eat Thanksgiving food with my family, but I still like doing this. It's a good thing, and you should do good things."

Salvation Army Capt. Bill Mockabee said the holidays can be the busiest and biggest time of the year for the organization, and volunteers are a vital part.

Through programs like the Angel Tree and the Red Kettle, which utilize volunteers, the Salvation Army serves hundreds of families in need.

"For most people, this is the time of the year where they start to look within themselves and look around at others and say 'maybe I need to volunteer,' " Mockabee said. "It's also great to get your kids involved, because they'll be more likely to volunteer when they get older."

Salvation Army volunteers Bill and Rachel Cadenhead, of Florence, have donated their time to the organization for almost 30 years.

"This is Christmas to me," Rachel Cadenhead said. "I would just be lost if I didn't have this work, helping the less fortunate and the ones who would not have Christmas otherwise. It just gives me lots of joy and satisfaction to see how we can help these people who are kind of down."

Rachel is a member of the Salvation Army's Women's Auxiliary, and this holiday season she's helping with the Angel Tree and with distribution after the donated items are collected.

Bill Cadenhead said he would be volunteering to ring the bells through the Red Kettle program.

"I'm thankful I'm still able to do it at my age," he said. "It's something I've done for a while now. I was in World War II, and the Salvation Army was everywhere we were, giving coffee and encouragement. It's been one of my favorite organizations."

Volunteering also has been an important part of the lives of 86-year-old Henrick Aune and wife Lola, 92, both of Florence.

"For many years, I have volunteered at the Salvation Army during Christmas time and helped distribute goods," Lola Aune said. "Getting the stockings ready and helping with distribution and registration - that's when you really become aware of the needs out there."

Mockabee said the organization hopes to have more volunteers before and during the holidays.

"The Salvation Army is really driven by volunteers. They help us really and truly do the most good," Mockabee said. There are opportunities to volunteer throughout the year, not just during the holidays, he said.

Miniutti said that especially around the holidays, individuals should consider how they want to volunteer and to which group.

"When giving of your time, you want to sit down and find out what cause you're the most passionate about," Miniutti said. "First, identify what your passion is and find some good charities out there doing that work and call them up and see how you can volunteer for them."

Kenda Williams can be reached at 740-5720 or kenda.williams@timesdaily.com.