Giving Back Through Service
For Wayne Thomas, volunteering at The Salvation Army isn’t just about lending a hand—it’s about giving back and staying grounded in gratitude.
Wayne first connected with The Salvation Army more than a decade ago while living in a halfway house after serving time in federal prison. “I wanted to give back,” he explains. “I’d been given a second chance, and I wanted to do something positive for my community.” Encouraged by people around him, he began volunteering and has been faithfully serving ever since.
Now 66 years old, Wayne has spent most of his life as a cook, starting at age 16 when he took a job at a local restaurant to help support his mother after his father passed away. Though he’s officially retired, he still works in a cafeteria and continues to cook at home. “If I don’t cook, I don’t eat,” he laughs. Cooking may be his lifelong trade, but service is his passion.
At The Salvation Army, Wayne does “whatever they need me to do”—from helping with coat giveaways to pitching in at community events. He often volunteers on Thursdays, working around his job schedule to make sure he can be present. The work, he says, keeps him humble. “It reminds me where I came from and how grateful I am to be where I am today.”
Wayne’s journey hasn’t been easy. He battled addiction for nearly 47 years and knows firsthand how life can take difficult turns. But through faith, perseverance, and the support of The Salvation Army, he has built a new chapter of purpose. “The Salvation Army is a good place for spiritual guidance and for help,” Wayne says. “Everybody needs help in some way, and this is a place people can come for that.”
When he’s not volunteering, Wayne enjoys walking—often five miles a day—lifting weights, and shooting hoops at the gym. He also looks forward to visiting his brother, who recently retired.
For Wayne, volunteering at The Salvation Army is about more than filling a need; it’s about building hope. “It’s a very good organization to do volunteer work with,” he says. “If you’re looking for a place to give back, this is one of the best.”