Volunteer Power
Getting into trouble with the law is what led Sterling Scott to The Salvation Army. Like many volunteers, he found his way to The Center of Hope through the court system and the need to fulfill community service hours. Sterling was arrested for DWI.
“I’m an introvert and drinking was kind of an icebreaker for me. I made a mistake and drove when I shouldn’t have.”
Sterling quit drinking and says he accepted his punishment. He appreciated the second chance and figured he would soldier through his community service. He was surprised to find how much he enjoyed his time volunteering in the food pantry—unloading, organizing, and packing groceries for those in need.
“When my community hours were done, I wanted to stay on. This doesn’t feel like work. I feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment here. It is something I want to keep doing because it feels good.”
A professional musician, part of Sterling’s volunteer effort now includes teaching children in the shelter how to play guitar.
“I can’t think of anything I’ve done that I’ve felt this good about. I don’t have to be here now, but I want to be here. This isn’t just a place to ring a bell or drop off your boxes of stuff from your garage that you don’t want, clothes that don’t fit. This is a community that people can count on.”
Like many who come looking for help at The Salvation Army, Sterling has experienced his own challenges including a cancer diagnosis. He had surgery and four rounds of chemotherapy. When he successfully surmounted all of that, that’s when he got in trouble with the law.
“I feel like I’m a person the system actually helped. Going through all I’ve gone through and seeing the people who struggle at the shelter has reminded me that we all live in glass houses. I’m no better that anyone else.”
Through sobriety, Sterling says he realized the mind is a powerful force and he has come to appreciate that he has much to be thankful for.
“Being here helps me repay my debt. From the people who mop the floor to those in charge, I hardly see them frown. They are always smiling. Everybody who works here has that sense of doing good, purposeful work and I’m happy to be part of that.”