<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2zbteF_1GuV9J4G00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2zbteF_1GuV9J4G00" width="1200" height="960" ><figcaption>Captian Amerlia Mott (left) and her husband Michael Mott (right)run The Salvation Army in Thurston County. Photo courtesy: Amelia Mott</figcaption></figure><p>Captain Amelia Mott, corps officer and administrator for Salvation Army Thurston County, helps lead social services, church programs and seasonal assistance across the community with her husband. Her path began after college during a gap year working for the Salvation Army at a children’s home in Nairobi, Kenya. That experience, along with a family tradition of service through her parents and great-grandparents, confirmed her goal of building a career around helping neighbors in need.</p><h2>Salvation Army Thurston County Services Reach Year-Round Needs</h2><p>Mott says she has worked with the organization since around 2012, though “it feels like my whole life.” Today, the local operation includes an emergency shelter for single adults with 35 beds that provide safety year-round. It also partners with Catholic Community Charities to provide lunch and dinner six days a week to anyone who needs a meal. Weekly women’s and men’s groups, church services and youth programs continue throughout the year.</p><p>Seasonal programs extend that support. They include firewood, utility assistance, summer camp programs and the Christmas Angel Tree, which provides Christmas toys to about 600 Thurston County families each year. Mott also values the Olympia Motorcycle Toy Run on the first Saturday of December, when every rider brings a toy to donate. Mott recalls vividly seeing thousands of motorcycles riding through town with toys tied to them.</p><h2>Holiday Volunteers and Donations Needed</h2><p>Funding remains a major challenge, Mott says, especially with an aging kitchen and shelter building that can be costly to maintain. The long-term hope is to upgrade or rebuild the shelter and community commercial kitchen. She says the holiday season is one of the busiest times for the organization and that community support helps keep basic services moving when families face added pressure near year’s end. During the holidays, support is especially important as programs expand and fundraising needs rise for Salvation Army Thurston County.</p><p>Residents can help by ringing bells at favorite stores, volunteering in the toy shop to pack Christmas gifts, or donating at red kettles; all kettle funds stay local. The holiday fundraising goal is $125,000. To sign up for bell ringing, call 360.352.8596 ext. 103. To volunteer at the toy shop, call 360.352.8596 ext. 101. For those considering public service, Mott’s advice is direct: “Do it! You won’t regret it!”</p></div></body>

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Captain Amelia Mott, corps officer and administrator for Salvation Army Thurston County, helps lead social services, church programs and seasonal assistance across the community with her husband. Her path began after college during a gap year working for the Salvation Army at a children’s home in Nairobi, Kenya. That experience, along with a family tradition of service through her parents and great-grandparents, confirmed her goal of building a career around helping neighbors in need.

Salvation Army Thurston County Seeks Holiday Help

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Captain Amelia Mott, corps officer and administrator for Salvation Army Thurston County, helps lead social services, church programs and seasonal assistanc

Salvation Army Thurston County Seeks Holiday Help

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