Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

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Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

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One Act of Kindness Can Change Everything Image

One Act of Kindness Can Change Everything

Every act of service has the power to change a life — including your own. At The Salvation Army, we see it happen every day.

Someone gives an hour of their time and becomes the reason someone eats tonight.

Someone offers a warm smile and becomes the reason another person feels seen, maybe for the first time in days.

Someone volunteers once and finds a new purpose, a community, even a calling.

This is what happens when you show up.

We call it paying it forward; when someone who’s been helped turns around and helps someone else. At The Salvation Army, many of our leaders began right there: as someone in need, offered hope by a volunteer like you. Now, they’re on the frontlines doing the same for others.

Meet the volunteers-turned-leaders who prove how powerful one act of kindness can be:

Lt. Esther Mobley – From Holiday Help to Community Leader

Esther was a 16-year-old mother when she first walked through the doors of The Salvation Army. By age 20, with four young kids and mounting challenges, she reached out for help with holiday meals and Christmas toys. It started with a warm gesture — but what she found was so much more.

Her children joined an after-school program, and Esther soon followed — first volunteering, then teaching. Today, Lt. Esther runs a local Salvation Army Corps, helping other families find the same hope and support she once needed.

“No matter how hurt or broken they are, The Salvation Army will love and accept them. That’s the heart I serve with now.”

Captain Ramesh Sukhdeo – From the Soup Line to Leading It

When Ramesh arrived in the U.S, he was homeless and sick. A stranger pointed him to The Salvation Army, where he was offered a hot meal and, unexpectedly, a moment of peace. That first visit changed everything.

He began volunteering in the soup kitchen — and never stopped. Years later, he now leads that same kitchen, serving 500 people a day.

“There are moments I look out at the line and see myself. Without The Salvation Army, I don’t know where I’d be. Now I give everything I have to this place that saved me.”

Chaya Jugenheimer – Growing Up with The Salvation Army, Giving Back for Life

Chaya first met The Salvation Army at age 8. Camp. After-school programs. Mentors who believed in her. As a teen, she gave back by volunteering — teaching dance, helping with homework, and eventually earning a degree in education.

Today, she directs the very programs that once shaped her, making sure every child feels seen, safe, and supported.

“This place gave me light when I needed it most. Now I help pass that light on.”

Your Moment to Make a Difference

During National Volunteer Month — and every month — there are people right in your community who need a warm meal, a helping hand, a kind face.

And there’s no better time to start than now.

Whether you serve a plate, sort coats, or simply sit beside someone who's hurting — your presence matters.

Sign Up to Volunteer