Story last updated at 1:46 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, 2005

New members sought for Women's Auxiliary
By April Wilkerson
SNS Reporter

Officers were recently installed for The Women's Auxiliary of The Salvation Army. From left, Major Dorris Gonzalez, divisional director of Women's Organizations; Pam Robinson, president; Linda Peterson, vice president; Judy Harrell, treasurer; Marta Land, recording secretary; Jan Rosenbaum, publicity; Wanda Hill, parlimentarian; Nita Saladin, historian, and Salvation Army representative Capt. Charlotte Gargis. Not pictured is Jean Miller, corresponding secretary.

There's literally a legion of volunteers who help carry out the services and programs of The Salvation Army.

One of the main groups of volunteers is The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary, whose members help with everything from the annual Spaghetti Day to tutoring children in the Boys and Girls Club.

New members are being sought with the Auxiliary's Membership Coffee, set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at the home of Dorie Barrett, 3615 N. Union.

The event will be a relaxed time to learn more about The Salvation Army, hear of opportunities in the Auxiliary and to greet new and old friends, said Capt. Charlotte Gargis, corps officer for The Salvation Army.

"We are looking for new members with new ideas," Capt. Gargis said. "It's a myth that you have to be retired to join the Auxiliary. We want women of all ages from a cross-section of the community, from mothers to businesswomen to retirees and anything in between."

Anyone interested in joining the Auxiliary is encouraged to attend the membership coffee. There will be snacks, entertainment, conversation and tours of the Barrett home and garden.

Currently, there are about 135 members of the Shawnee Auxiliary, about half active and half contributing, Gargis said. Active members are those who can attend monthly meetings, and contributing members are those who can't attend but still want to help with various events.

The Women's Auxiliary of the Shawnee Salvation Army began in 1977, Gargis said. Two charter members are still a part of the group, Helen Weiss and Dottie Hatch Kern.

The Auxiliary's aim is a blend of service and ministry to the Army and fund-raising for its various programs, Gargis said. There's also a social aspect that has generated many lifelong friends.

"A lot of friendships have been built around the events and service," she said. "We have a lot of fun whatever we're doing."

The Auxiliary's largest fund-raiser is the annual Spaghetti Dinner, set this year for Oct. 27. They also spearhead the Shelter for the Shower in March, which gathers donations for the homeless shelter.

Other activities and fund-raisers center around summer camp, Christmas gifts for the Angel Tree, holiday food boxes, Boys and Girls Club, utility help for the corps and more.

In the Southern Territory of The Salvation Army, auxiliaries have sponsored a children's home in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico.

This year's focus for the Shawnee Auxiliary will be on service, ministry and community awareness of what the group does for The Salvation Army, Gargis said.

"It takes an Army to carry out all the services; our staff could never do it all by ourselves," she said. "We depend on our volunteers.

This Auxiliary is our Army of Angels. They serve with a servant's heart."