Walmart steps in to volunteer at McKinnell House
A member of the Alaska Walmart management team paints inside the entry of the Family Services Food Pantry at The Salvation Army's McKinnell House Tuesday March 27, 2018. About a dozen Walmart managers came out to volunteer at the family shelter. (Robert DeBerry/The Salvation Army)
The Salvation Army Alaska Division serves 18 communities across the state and countless programs that help Alaskans in need. These programs and the mission of The Salvation Army depend on volunteers that give thousands of hours to Doing The Most Good. In 2017 Alaskans volunteered 71,097 volunteer hours with The Salvation Army to serve those in need.
Tuesday March 27, 2018 was a wonderful example of the power of volunteers and the amazing partnerships being formed when members of the management team from the Anchorage and Wasilla area Walmart stores came out in force to help at The Salvation Army’s McKinnell House Family Shelter and the Family Services Food Pantry.
About a dozen members showed up with donated paint and supplies and went to work painting the entry area of the food pantry and sorted through bags of donated clothing. The clothing will go to residents of the 16-bed facility.
According to Family Services Manager Wayne McNearney having the volunteers is indispensable. “We couldn’t do it without them. They are painting and doing some improvements. They are going to make the place look and feel comfortable so when the people we serve come through the doors they will know we care about them and they are important.”
Members of the Alaska Walmart management team sort through bags of donated clothes at The Salvation Army's McKinnell House Family Shelter Tuesday March 27, 2018. About a dozen Walmart managers came out to volunteer at the family shelter. (Robert DeBerry/The Salvation Army)
Brad Spitz echoed that thought as he and his team were sorting clothes for the residents of the family homeless shelter. Spitz said there is a lot the volunteers can do to help The Salvation Army and those that are served by the organization.
Spitz said Walmart has great partnerships with the Salvation Army across the nation and here in Alaska it is no different. He said the team is sorting clothes, organizing the linens and painting over on the food pantry side.
The Salvation Army has volunteer opportunities to match anyone’s interest, expertise and heart; whether it is donating time at the food pantry, tutoring an at-risk teen at an after school program, or serving a term on a local Salvation Army Advisory Board. For more details, please visit us at alaska.salvationarmy.org or call our volunteer coordinator at (907) 276-2515
Members of the Alaska Walmart management team organize linens at The Salvation Army's McKinnell House Family Shelter Tuesday March 27, 2018. About a dozen Walmart managers came out to volunteer at the family shelter. (Robert DeBerry/The Salvation Army)