By Major Nancy Fuller

My husband and I are spending a few days in New Orleans this week to prepare our physical bodies, our minds and our souls for the six to seven weeks ahead of us.

In The Salvation Army, as most of you know, November and December are our busiest and hardest months.

We are usually out the door very early each morning and not back home until very late in the evening. Of course, we don’t do these things needed to help those less fortunate in our community by ourselves.

We have some wonderful volunteers who man the kettles, count the money from the kettles, help purchase toys and gifts for many, many children, and help set up the distribution center where we give toys to almost 500 families.

It can’t be done by just Major John and me. It is a community affair and I am very thankful for all the help and support from the community that we do receive this time of the year. I’m also thankful for all the donors that can’t walk by a kettle without putting in a few cents.

If you have never worked at one of our Red Kettle sites, I encourage you to volunteer during the Christmas season to do so. You can give an hour or two up to an all day event.

You will be amazed at the generosity of those who come by your kettle with not only the change or bills in their pocket, but also the stories of when “The Salvation Army was there for them as a child,” and when “they received a hot meal during one of the hurricanes.”

My favorite is “during World War II, the Donut Girls were right there on the front lines with the soldiers and gave them coffee and donuts for free, while other folks were charging the soldiers for that.

Thank God The Salvation Army has been around for over 150 years and is now flying its flag in over 126 countries around the world. This is the month of November, the month for thankfulness. Every day I get up and find something, even if just one thing, to be thankful for.

There are so many people today who can’t find even one thing to be thankful for because they are bitter or depressed. Just the fact that you woke up this morning should be something to be thankful for. Make it a personal month of thankfulness and find those things that are all around you that you can be thankful for and remember who has provided those things for you and be thankful to Him!

emember, If you are interested in helping the Salvation Army this Christmas season, please call Cathy Bodin at 409-983-2229 to find out more about opportunities to “ring the bell.” It’s a great way to get your business involved, your Sunday School Class, your youth group, your Civic Club and you as an individual! An opportunity that will truly make your Christmas a very, merry one! God bless you during this month of Thanksgiving and know you are appreciated by the Fullers here in Mid and South County!

Maj. Nancy Fuller and her husband, Maj. John Fuller, are the officers in charge of the Port Arthur branch of The Salvation Army.