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Social - January 2003 |
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Workers volunteer at Christian Ministry By DIANE TURBYFILL, LTN Staff Writer January 24, 2003 - Sounds of laughter, conversation and productivity echo through the loading area at Christian Ministry. It’s the sound of volunteers at work. A special crew of volunteers have been cleaning, sorting food and packaging items for the Ministry for the last two weeks, a team from Salem Industries. “They’ve been doing all sorts of great things,” says Christian Ministry Director Susan Brymer. Salem Industries is a community rehabilitation program that provides services, programs and vocational training for people with disabilities. Teams from Salem are employed by area businesses and earn weekly paychecks for their services. The team that has been spent two weeks at Christian Ministry usually works at Alpharma, a Lincolnton pharmaceutical company. Ed Campbell, production manager at Salem, says the team of 11 workers finished a job early and had some downtime. Rather than sitting at home, the workers are making good use of their time by volunteering at Christian Ministry. “This is great training for our folks,” Campbell says. Brymer agrees. “We always need volunteers, and this was just a perfect match,” she says. “It was an opportunity for two community organizations to come together.” The volunteers arrive at 9 a.m., like all Christian Ministry employees. They receive their orders from John Hall, building maintenance supervisor. Their days are spent reorganizing the loading dock, making bread runs to area grocery stores, loading cars with food boxes, sorting food and cleaning the facility. “The very first day they came in they had smiles on their faces and a willingness to work,” says Hall. Around 11 a.m., the volunteers eat at the soup kitchen. Campbell says every bit of the experience has been positive — teaching participants about the importance of volunteerism, work ethic and social skills. “They do so well with interaction,” Campbell says. The day wraps up at 1 p.m. The Salem workers ask if they’ll be returning eagerly awaiting the answer. But after two weeks of hard labor, they’ll be returning to Alpharma Monday. “I hate to lose them after two weeks,” Brymer says. Campbell says each member of the team has a contribution to make. He describes one participant who is confined to a wheelchair, has use of only two fingers, yet gives all he can. “And he makes a pretty good salary.” Brymer says the volunteer work has helped tremendously to straighten up after the Christmas rush. And she encourages all who are able to lend a hand. “No matter what their abilities are, we can always put people to work.”
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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
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