Alma Timmons and Ella Atkins enjoy hearing the stories and filling the need. They don’t hesitate to volunteer their time and offer their assistance.

But they know their volunteer work isn’t enough to meet even half the needs of those who come to the Salvation Army. They know it takes money, too.

&uot;Everything is not getting the support it needs,&uot; Timmons said. &uot;They need more donations. We do the best we can.&uot;

The Salvation Army is one of the Miss-Lou agencies that receives the most money from the annual United Way campaign, and those funds are something that keeps it running.

Anyone who comes to the Salvation Army for assistance of any kind first goes through a screening process to determine how much help they do need. After the screening the organization provides food, clothing, furniture and medicine vouchers to families or individuals.

In addition to running the Salvation Army store, from which proceeds go to help others, the agency runs several other projects throughout the year including the red kettle campaign and Angel Tree.

Timmons has been heading up the Angel Tree program since she moved here in the 1990s.

Around Christmas each year she works with other volunteers to get the names of families that need gifts for their children, works to get trees up and decorated around town and organizes the distribution of the gifts.

Citizens around town are encouraged to take the name of an angel in need of a gift by Dec. 17 and return the gift to the Salvation Army.

Timmons said her first involvement with the Salvation Army started in Shreveport, La., in 1988.

&uot;I just enjoy doing it,&uot; she said. &uot;It gives you a good sense. I always said I wanted to do volunteer work.&uot;

Atkins said her work with the Salvation Army has been very fulfilling.

&uot;When you see people who appreciate it, it makes this fun,&uot; she said. &uot;Seeing the people we’ve helped, and they always let us know.&uot;

Timmons said she especially enjoys working with the senior adults who come in for help.

&uot;They will tell you their stories and it helps them to have someone listen,&uot; she said.

Timmons and Atkins said in addition to attending board meetings they try to stop by at least once a week to see what needs to be done.

&uot;They are the greatest volunteers in the world,&uot; Salvation Army Executive Director Jeanne Brunner said. &uot;I don’t know what I’d do without them. I depend on them so much and it would be physically impossible without them.&uot;