Local volunteers saluted at appreciation dinner

More than 100 people volunteer at Salvation Army's Havre Service Center, the food bank and Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen every year, and many were on hand Tuesday night to be praised by a series of speakers at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.

The Salvation Army, Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen and Havre Food Bank help a joint dinner prepared by volunteers ranging from food bank director Lorna Bjerga to state Sen. Kris Hansen.

"You don't know how thankful we are for you and your work," Trina Crawford, the Salvation Army's service director, said at the dinner, held at St. Jude Parish Center..

Guest speaker state Rep. Stephanie Hess, R-Havre, said when she was asked by Crawford to speak, she didn't have to think long before accepting.

"It was an easy yes," she said. "This is an honor. You people are the salt of the earth."

"The highest calling is to volunteer," she said, adding, "To speak to a room full of servants is an honor."

Chief among those honored was Charles Floyd, who served on the local board of directors for more than 20 years before his death Jan. 26.

A table with pictures and other Charlie memorabilia, was set up at the front of the assembly, and speakers shared stories of his honor and how it made volunteering for the Salvation Army more enjoyable.

Other speakers told of what Salvation Army and the other charities have meant in their lives.

Robert Waltee recalled a time about six years ago, when he was down and out, jobless and homeless.

He heard that the Salvation Army was looking for a bell ringer for the red kettle program at Walmart during the Christmas season.

He was nervous about being in the public, but he needed a job and he'd heard of the good things that the Salvation Army did.

"Trina hired me," he said.

The job was the start of a change in his life, he said.

Since then, he has used the Salvation Army services, he said, and Feed My Sheep provided a hot lunch which for many months was the only meal he had most days.

Now that he has a job and is on the road to recovery, he said, he still eats at Feed My Sheep on occasion.

Crawford rattled off several businesses she said have been invaluable in helping out.

They include CHS Big Sky, which she said, pays their employees to volunteer with the Salvation Army, as well at El Toro Motel, G&B Motors, the Greater Havre Area Ministerial Association, Havre Hardware & Home, Havre Helping Hand, Kmart and Walmart.

But the business of the year, in her mind, was Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods, which she said extends a helping hand every time it is asked.

Bjerga also praised local businesses that helped food bank clients.

Walmart is especially helpful, she said, in providing food to the food bank.

Volunteers were given certificates for their work, and Crawford awarded Judy Neely the Bonnie Bennett Memorial Bell-Ringer Award.

Bennett was a bell ringer for more than 25 years at Gary & Leo's and was a Christmastime fixture before her death two years ago.