Celebrating National Volunteer Week: Curt
Tell us about yourself.
I’m the Midwest Public Relations Manager for Toyota North America. I oversee activity in the Great lakes and Heartland regions. Charity and philanthropy is something I’m also in charge of. I first became involved with The Salvation Army 9 years ago through Walk In My Boots, which provides 150 pairs of new winter boots to children in need every year.
What has it been like to help The Salvation Army during the COVID-19 pandemic?
It’s our responsibility to help the less fortunate. I’m a person of faith, and the Bible is filled with passages of helping the poor, especially in times of trouble. I consider it a privilege to dedicate a shift a week to packing food boxes. It’s my responsibility to do so. We are very philanthropic at Toyota, too, and I felt like I should go represent my company in this way. More importantly, it's a great way help people in need.
Why do you volunteer for The Salvation Army?
I believe in the organization because I see what they do for the community. At Toyota, a Japanese phrase we like is “genchi genbutsu”, which means 'to go out and see.' In order to solve a problem, you have to go face it and see it in person. When I started volunteering at The Salvation Army two summers ago, I was serving meals from a Bed & Bread truck. I wanted to see exactly what the program did and who they served. It was an eye-opening experience. I was taken back by the amount of need and how appreciative people were. That made volunteering very personal for me. This past holiday season, I decided to do a shift as a bell ringer. I was impressed by the amount of people who gave generously, and I saw that people recognize how important The Salvation Army is. Helping pack boxes is the next logical step after all I’ve done with The Salvation Army. They have great safety protocols at the warehouse.
How do you feel after volunteering?
I feel satisfied to know I’ve done a small part to help, but I’m one person in a much larger effort. I loved getting to know other volunteers at the warehouse; everyone comes from somewhere different, but we all have the same goal: help others.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about volunteering for The Salvation Army?
Go check out your local corps and check out salmich.org. There is plenty of opportunity to help right now. Search your heart and pray about whether you should help during the COVID-19 crisis. Once you get involved, you’ll experience the gratification of helping fellow Detroiters. The Salvation Army has set a goal of providing thousands upon thousands of food boxes over the next several weeks. It’s going to pay great dividends for people in need. With unemployment at 25% in the state, there’s going to be great need going forward.
Curt volunteers to offer relief to so many during these trying times. Thank you for your support! We cannot do this alone. We invite you to find our more if you are interested in volunteering with us.