By Bobby Carr

Special to the Salisbury Post

The kettles are out at the store and the empty stockings need to be filled. The red kettles and helping those in-need is all some people think about when they think of The Salvation Army.

Betty Wilson is a soldier on the front-lines in the battle to spread love and compassion to others.  Betty volunteers her time to pick up food donation put together food orders fill in as the front desk receptionist, social worker, drives kids to summer camp or just pray with the thousands of people who come to the Salvation Army here in Salisbury. She is what the Salvation Army does.

Betty moved to Salisbury with her mother and father Rachael Hemming in 1967. From day one, they were part of the Salvation Army Corps and volunteered to become a part of the Salvation Army programs and worship services.  Betty’s mother rang the bells.

With Betty and David Hemmings, Betty’s younger brother, the the group would go door to door to businesses and homes to support the mission of the Salvation Army in the late 60s and early 70s.

Betty takes part in Salvation Army programs and ministries.

Her favorite is the Salvation Army’s North and South Carolina annual women’s camp in the spring. Instead of just going and relaxing, she drives the bus so the other woman who don’t drive can attend.

Betty Wilson is 65 years young, and it is her and other like her that ensure when you drop your donation in those red kettles, mail one to P.O box 625 Salisbury, NC.  28145, or bring a donation to the Salvation Army at 625 Bringle Ferry Road, that it helpes as many of those in need in Rowan County possible.

Betty is a 100 percent volunteer . She even goes beyond 100 percent when the Salisbury Corps is tapped out and can’t even afford to run the bus to pick-up for our youth programs. She reaches into her own pocket to put gas in the bus and keep the Salvation Army rolling Salisbury and Rowan County.

From Betty and all of us here at The Salvation Army we wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Captain Bobby Carr is a corps officer for the Salisbury Salvation Army