Salvation Army has new volunteer coordinator

By Mark Ribble

LEAMINGTON — Ryan Trombley is looking for a few good volunteers.

The new Volunteer Coordinator at Salvation Army Church in Leamington is hoping to interest people in helping out with programs at the church.

Ryan started his new job on September 13 and is charged with coordinating, recruiting and maintaining volunteers for Majors Ron and Judi Wickens, who have been the pastors at the Leamington location since August 2020.

The Kingsville native is in his final year at the University of Ottawa and is taking that final year remotely, so he has the time and energy to devote to getting programs up and running for the church.

Currently, they are planning their annual Kettle Drive and are in need of numerous Kettle Bell Ringers for the upcoming holiday season.

“We do 30 shifts a week for six weeks,” he said. “That’s a lot of volunteers.”

The Salvation Army Kettle Program runs from the second week of November through to Christmas Eve, in six locations across Leamington and Kingsville.

Ryan Trombley stands in the pantry at the Salvation Army in Leamington.

SUN photo

They are also working on a Thursday Night Community Dinner for which they need volunteers.

“Volunteering helps everyone feel like they are part of the community,” he said. “This allows me to commit to my neighbours in the community.”

Ryan hopes to have plenty of volunteers in place so that the plans of future programs at the church can be realized.

“Everything is volunteer-driven,” he says.

Of course, the Salvation Army has their Food Bank, for which volunteers are always needed and welcomed too.

After Christmas, they are hoping to get some community gardens going as well.

Volunteering to Ryan has become second nature.

“I have a history of volunteering,” he says. “My volunteering in the past has helped me build self-confidence.”

Anyone wishing to volunteer for any of the Salvation Army programs must be fully vaccinated and willing to wear a mask. The church will provide PPE like gloves and hand sanitizer.

If you’d like to help the Salvation Army Church out, you can call or text Ryan Trombley at 519- 999-2108 or email him at ryan.trombley@salvationarmy.ca.