Volunteers: Our Heart and Soul
The Salvation Army of Wake County relies on the dedication of volunteers to carry out its mission. In 2023, over 10,000 volunteers contributed more than 35,000 hours of service. These volunteers served meals at the shelter, assisted at the food pantry, helped in the thrift store, supported the Angel Tree program, and much more. Coordinating such a large team of volunteers is no small feat. As the volunteer coordinator, Rosemary Weber is always on the go—recruiting, welcoming, and training new volunteers to ensure the success of the organization’s programs and services.
“I want to make sure every volunteer has a great experience and feels proud of what they’ve done to give back to the community,”
She strives to tailor each volunteer’s role to match their interests and comfort level.
“If someone comes in with a background in culinary arts, I’ll place them in the food pantry kitchen,” Rosemary explains. “I aim to ensure that what they’re doing aligns with their skills and makes them feel at ease.”
Part of Rosemary's role also involves educating volunteers about the full scope of The Salvation Army’s work. She notes that many volunteers are unaware of the vast range of services the organization provides.
“A lot of students need to fulfill community service hours, and many of them have no idea what The Salvation Army does. I enjoy starting that conversation and getting them excited about the impact they can make, so they’ll want to come back and continue volunteering with us.”
Being a volunteer coordinator requires both people skills and the ability to manage a fair amount of paperwork. Many volunteers come to The Salvation Army due to legal requirements and the need to complete community service hours. Rosemary takes this responsibility seriously and has little tolerance for those who don’t follow through on their commitments.
“If I’m giving them the opportunity to complete their hours before going to court, they need to show up when they’re supposed to,” she says.
The truth is, The Salvation Army relies on every volunteer to keep its operations running smoothly.
“We need all the help we can get. Without volunteers, none of this work would be possible. Volunteers are truly the heart and soul of The Salvation Army.”
In addition to her regular recruitment efforts, Rosemary coordinates a variety of events, such as coat drives and toy drives for The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. This year, she also took on the task of organizing lunch deliveries to local police and firefighters in honor of 9/11 First Responder Day. This special event provided an opportunity to express The Salvation Army’s gratitude for the tireless work and dedication of first responders throughout the year.
Before joining The Salvation Army, Rosemary spent 10 years with Habitat for Humanity. She understands that volunteers are the backbone of many nonprofit organizations, generously dedicating their time and energy to meaningful causes.
“I want to ensure that every individual or group who comes in is well taken care of and feels appreciated,” she says. “When a volunteer helps with our Angel Tree program, especially, their heart is filled with love and joy, knowing they’ve done something good for someone in the community. That’s a good day for me. It’s incredibly rewarding.”