Williamsport, Pa. — As with most nonprofit and charitable organizations, volunteerism drives productivity. The more robust a volunteer network, the stronger the organization.
The Salvation Army Williamsport Corps is no different, and benefits from a strong network of volunteer support.
"The work that our volunteers put in translates to an equivalent of three additional full-time and one part-time staff member," said Laura Templeton, public relations and resource development for the Williamsport Corps. "We simply couldn’t do nearly as much for the community were it not for our volunteers," she said.
Templeton said more than 300 volunteers donate more than 7,000 hours of service per year. Nationwide, the Salvation army employs just over 50,000 (officers and employees), with an army of 1.4 million volunteers.
"As of Fiscal Year 2022, together the officers, staff, and volunteers have served 25 million people across the U.S. That's more than twice the population of Pa.," Templeton said.
The Salvation Army of Williamsport, part of the Eastern Pennsylvania & Delaware Division, recognized their volunteers on Wednesday during a luncheon and awards ceremony at Farrington Place.
Local man wins Division award
"In conjunction with National Volunteer Week in April, our Division invited us to nominate a volunteer who has gone above and beyond their 'duties,'" said Templeton. "We are elated that The Salvation Army’s Eastern PA & DE Division has recognized James T. Knight as Volunteer of the Year, and we are grateful for all he does for us and for the community," she continued.
Knight is an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and elsewhere. He returned to the area in the fall of 2021. Instead of relaxing in his retirement, "he continues to devote himself—now through the Salvation Army—to serving others."
From Knight's award nomination:
Mr. James T. Knight returned to his hometown of Williamsport, PA, in 2021, after retiring as a Staff Sergeant in the US Army and serving overseas for 40 years.
Over the last 2.5 years, Mr. Knight has volunteered well over 3,200 hours to our community through the Williamsport Corps. He is here 9:00 AM-2:00 PM almost every weekday year-round, helping with custodial work, property maintenance, our food pantry operations, packing emergency food boxes, answering phones and greeting the public in person, picking up rescued food weekly, shuttling kettle workers and kettles to and fro, serving as a kettle bellringer himself, and much more.
Whether it’s getting on his hands and knees to deep clean our kitchen before inspection or climbing an extension ladder to replace light bulbs in the chapel (and he does not like heights!), there’s virtually nothing Mr. Knight won’t do for his “Salvation Army family,” as he likes to call the Williamsport Corps officers, staff, and fellow volunteers.
Outside usual office hours, you can find him filling in for our gym manager whenever needed to oversee evening intramural basketball league play, helping to represent The Salvation Army at special events like downtown First Fridays or in the Little League World Series Grand Slam parade, driving the van to pick up and drop off church attendees on Sundays, and bellringing at special events that begin as early as 6:00 AM.
Mr. Knight is a tremendous grassroots advocate for The Salvation Army in our community, so we were delighted when he agreed to be installed as an Advisory Board member in May 2022. Most recently he also began helping with our Thursday evening youth programs, where he serves as a great male role model for the young men of our community (an especially important role since both our officers and all other youth program volunteers are women).
Above all, Mr. Knight likes to bring joy and happiness to people—young, old, and all ages in between. Not sure if it’s because of his special international military clearances or what, but he’s gotten the Easter Bunny to pay visits to our Golden Agers and youth programs several times over the last few years, and he even melted the Grinch’s heart to serve the Williamsport community in the name of The Salvation Army! Last but not least, Mr. Knight must have leveraged his international connections to call in a special favor this past Christmas. Somehow, he convinced old Kris Kringle to leave the North Pole during his busiest of seasons and visit with Williamsport children at least five times as part of The Salvation Army’s three-week Festival of Trees.
Mr. Knight is deeply committed to serving our community as a volunteer of The Salvation Army, and we are incredibly blessed and thankful to have him as a member of our Williamsport Corps 'family.'
Additional awards
Angel Tree award: St. Boniface & St. Lawrence parishes
Service Club Bell Ringer award: Ivy Lodge #106
Corporate Bell Ringer award: Jersey Shore State Bank
Community Partner award: UPMC
Community Garden award: Rickey Lee
Timothy Heffler Memorial award: JoJo Potts
Outstanding Red Kettle partners:
West Branch Association of REALTORSThe Young IndsustriesKent Bennett & FamilyJim Webb & The Webb Weekly
Outstanding Counter Kettle Partner: Wengerd's Farm Market
2023 Festival of Trees People's Choice Award: Wolf Run Veterinary Clinic
2023 Festival of Trees Best of the Festival Award: Bi-Lo Supply Plumbing & Heating
Timothy Heffler Memorial Award: Michael T. Roan
Outstanding Volunteers:
Dearl MillerScotty Triosi
Interested in volunteering for the Salvation Army Williamsport Corps? Find them on Facebook or call the office at 570-326-9187.
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