Salvation Army of McHenry County welcomes new volunteers and community relations manager

In anticipation of the biggest fundraising time of the year, Jeffrey Pal started this week as the new volunteers and community relations manager for The Salvation Army of McHenry County.

In the minds of many Christmas is still over three months away, but for The Salvation Army of McHenry County it started this week with the hiring of a new volunteers and community relations manager Jeffrey Pal.

Last year, more than 1,500 bellringing volunteers raised $213,000 for The Salvation Army of McHenry County within six short weeks during the Christmas season. This year's goal will be similar, but with the twist of a new coordinator that has hit the ground running in learning about the organization and its mission to provide basic human needs in the name of Jesus Christ without discrimination. Captain Carol Lewis, commanding officer for The Salvation Army of McHenry County, stated, "We are thrilled to have Jeff with us and working with our valued volunteers that help us raise over 25 percent of our yearly budget within six short weeks through bellringing during the Christmas season. The bellringing program belongs to the volunteers and they are the successful driving force behind the program each year."

Pal has worked in leadership development for over 23 years especially with student organizations. He has been a business owner working with nonprofit organizations in leadership and volunteer development, and as an educator at Rockford College. He holds a masters of education degree from Loyola University of Chicago and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse. His passion is working with students and volunteers who value the ideology of giving back to their communities.

Volunteer bellringers needed:

The Salvation Army of McHenry County is accepting applications for volunteer bellringers starting Sept. 30. With more than 50 bellringing locations throughout McHenry County, The Salvation Army is dependent upon the generosity of individuals, churches, service clubs, boys and girls groups, schools, and businesses to devote their time to ringing a bell for a few hours or more. All money raised in McHenry County stays local to help those in need throughout the year and is vital to the social and community services that The Salvation Army provides year-round.

For information, contact Jeffrey Pal, volunteers and community outreach coordinator, at (815) 455-2769.

The Salvation Army of McHenry County main office is at 290 W. Crystal Lake Ave. in Crystal Lake. More information is available online at www.salarmycl.org.

The Salvation Army has served the communities in McHenry County for more than 25 years of dedicated service. The McHenry County Corps provides meals, clothing, school supplies, toys, financial, and spiritual assistance to those in need. The McHenry County Corps is part of The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division.