The Washington Corps of the Salvation Army is actively looking for candidates for its advisory board, as well as volunteers to serve for its projects.

According to Heidi Jernigan Smith, an advisory board member and nominating committee chair, the local organization needs men and women who can bring professional skills and knowledge of the community to strengthen the outreach the organization does to benefit those in need. Currently, the group has nine available positions out of 24, slots that have opened up due to life’s circumstances such as death and those who have moved from the community, Smith said.

Advisory board members are elected to serve three-year terms and attend 10 monthly lunch meetings, September through June, at the organization’s local office in Washington.

Smith said the members provide guidance in areas like budgeting and program development, public relations and fundraising, disaster relief response and facilities improvement and maintenance. The organization would also like to see board members apply who have experience in volunteer networking, event planning, photography and other skills.

Board members also provide insight into local culture, trends and needs necessary to assisting the organization in developing new ministries or modifying existing programs, Smith said. Corp officers, which are assigned nationally, normally serve for a maximum of three to four years in any given location, making the role of local advisory boards vital in not only continuing ongoing projects but helping new officers become acclimated to an assigned area in order to best perform their duties.

“The advisory board is assigned to ensure continuity as officers come and go,” Smith said. “We really rely on the community to be the life force of the Army. Officers have a narrow window of time to make a difference in the local community and the board helps them get acclimated quickly.”

For those who would like to contribute to the organization on a more limited basis, several volunteer opportunities are available throughout the year, Smith said. For one, the most need for volunteers will occur during the Christmas season and during disaster response events. The organization is in need of bell ringers during the Red Kettle Campaign between Nov. 9 and Dec. 24. Volunteers are asked to serve a minimum of four hours for the campaign.

The organization also needs a Spanish translator Oct. 19-21 at the Washington office to assist staff during the Angel Tree application process. Angel Tree is a project involving a wish list submitted for children in need and a donor shopping for the child based on the wish list. Beginning Nov. 16, the organization will also need volunteers to help set up the Angel Tree warehouse and then process and pack Christmas donations between Dec. 14 and Dec. 18, Smith said.

The organization also welcomes volunteers willing to assist with the operation of its family stores, located in Washington and Chocowinity, Smith said. Other ways to get involved include: joining the Army’s disaster relief team, which largely involves preparing and delivering meals or household cleaning kits following a flood, hurricane or other crisis situation; helping out with year-round food drives, many of which occur during the fall; and many other opportunities.

“I believe in the saying, ‘Many hands make light work,’” Smith said. “If you have a skill or a talent, we can put you to work. If you have a few hours (to volunteer), there’s always something we can find for folks to do.”

Smith said the local organization has served residents of Beaufort, Hyde, Washington, Martin, Bertie and Tyrrell counties since 1937. This year marks the 150^th anniversary of the International Salvation Army, which operates 15,409 corps around the world.

Interested candidates should contact nominating committee chair Heidi Jernigan Smith at 252-945-7891 to learn more about advisory board service and to request a candidate application. Anyone interested in non-advisory board volunteer service should phone Amanda Reagan at the Salvation Army Corps’ office at 252-946-2523.