Need knows no season

Posted: Oct 25, 2012 6:22 PM by Keli Moore
Updated: Oct 31, 2012 4:54 PM

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It's the Season of Hope here at KSBY. We've teamed up with local agencies to collect food and toys for those in need on the Central Coast during the holidays.

One of those agencies is The Salvation Army. It's roots run deep beginning in England in 1865 with the motto - soup, soap and salvation. Today this organization reaches 31 million people. In San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties thousands are helped every year and it's not just during the holidays.

"The Salvation Army historically gave at Christmas time, it started with feeding, but now we do gifts and angel trees and Season of Hope," said Beth Quaintance at the Salvation Army in Paso Robles.

Need knows no season.

"A lot of us do eviction prevention, we do utility assistance, some do transportation, some are major food distributors for communities, sometimes we purchase medication for seniors. It just depends on our clients' needs," said Quaintance.

This is also the army that shows up when there's a natural disaster or search and rescue effort.

"When The Salvation Army shows up, we are well taken care of," said Lisa Marie Donnahoo, who is a volunteer for the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue team.

"We ask them how many people are out there and what is your need. We show up there with hot food, Gatorade and water and we always have the coffee pot going," said Quaintance.

They show up and serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

"It's the best part of my job. I love responding to search and rescue because for SLO county they are volunteers, and it is an honor to serve them and we have seen the results of their searches," said Quaintance.

The Salvation Army delivers results.

"We are usually the first ones in and the last ones out at an emergency and with our clients," said Quaintance.

Donations made to The Salvation Army stay within the community where they are received.

Season of Hope continues until December 14, so pick up an extra toy or can of food while you're out shopping and stop by your local fire station, Heritage Oaks Bank, CCPN office, or the KSBY studios in San Luis Obispo or Santa Maria.