Giving Back – Lawyer Style: Ruth Noelani Buzzard

Whenever I hear the name Salvation Army, I envision events like Hurricane Katrina or Joplin, Missouri: disaster relief of monumental proportions. Many people don’t realize that the Salvation Army has locations within our community that provide aid to families in crisis on a daily basis.

As a family law practitioner in Contra Costa County for over 20 years, I have served as a Court appointed counsel for minors and sat on the advisory board for Battered Women’s Alternative. Through this involvement, I often witness families in crisis. I became involved with the Salvation Army when my friend, MJ Rock asked me to attend a board meeting where I discovered how much the Salvation Army actually does for our community. I now serve as an advisory board member.

The Red Kettles that are placed outside local businesses from early November through Christmas Eve each year are the Salvation Army’s most recognizable symbol. Last holiday season, I helped MJ launch “Operation Bell Ringer,” which was designed to put a new face to the bell-ringing event, the Salvation Army’s biggest fundraising opportunity of the year. We brought back the traditional navy blue capes and hats and asked our local community leaders to bellring for the kick-off. We also recruited the local high schools and involved the seniors so they could achieve their community service hours by volunteering to bell ring (they are chaperoned by an adult).

The Salvation Army is committed to serving the whole person, body, mind, spirit, with integrity and respect, using creative solutions to positively transform lives. This is the mission statement of the Salvation Army. With the funds they receive from the Red Kettles, the Salvation Army funds emergency food distributions, emergency energy assistance, GED study programs, after school tutoring clubs, Christian scouting programs, a youth club, weekly family literacy night, weekly women’s clubs, Christmas dinners, and clothing for families in need. The volunteers distribute gifts to shut-ins in hospitals, nursing homes, and their shelters are open for sit down dinners various times throughout the year. The Salvation Army can provide financial assistance in addition to the seasonal aid.

Our Chapter of the Salvation Army, Salvation Army Delta Corps, provides all of these functions and sponsers: an Easter Egg hunt, summer camp, back pack and school supply drive – partnered with Wal-Mart – a turkey drive, and toy drive.

Please visit: www.salarmyantioch.org to sponsor a Red Kettle. To make online donations, click on: Make A Gift, then click on the Red Kettle. Some Bell Ringers now accept credit cards. You can donate clothing, furniture, electronics and small appliances by either taking the goods to Salvation sites or call to arrange pick-up.

For more information about how you can help with this exceptional organization you can contact Major Jackie at: 925.525.0324. The Salvation Army is a non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.