THE PUBLIC MIND: WOMAN PRAISES SALVATION ARMY FOR HELP RECEIVED OVER YEARS

Dear Editor:

For many years during the Christmas holidays, our source of food came from the Salvation Army of Cape Girardeau. Having five children and trying to make it on food stamps was very difficult at times, especially during the holidays. I want to support and encourage the public to support the Salvation Army.

In the past, with my five children, I worked as a migrant worker. I had to move a lot, and one day I decided to settle down and try to improve my way of life, not just for myself but for my five children. At the time my children were 12, 8, 7, 4 and 3 years old. We lived out in the country. When we first there, we had no lights, not much cloth~ing, mostly what was on our backs. Our house had no running water and half of the windows were broken out and were paste-boarded up.

I just came from the state of Michigan, and I had no money to buy food with. My feelings were haunting me and I didn't know what I was going to do. Someone had told me to go to the Salvation Army at Cape Girardeau and they would help the children and I out. By going to the Salvation Army, I was helped tremendously. My children and I were given food and clothing put on our backs, shoes on our feet, and a warm coat to wear. You don't have to be a bad person to ask for help. My family has troubled times, but we weren't bad.

After being helped by the Salvation Army, I took a job at the Oran hat company in 1978. Each year, I put myself to saving for the Salvation Army by walking the highways, picking up aluminum cans. Last year, I went back to work at the Venture products of Oran. I worked at an hourly rate as a repair lady on baseball caps. Every extra penny I made went to charity and the Salvation Army. I helped some unfortunate people in the same way other people had helped this unfortunate person.

Hunger is here in America. By supporting the unfortunate at the Salvation Army, it helped me to grow and feel stronger in my everyday walk of life. The bell ringers and the lighted Christmas tree, and every person that helps, whether it might be cooking the turkeys and all the fixings, the bell ringing, and the ones that places and fixes the lighted Christmas trees are wonderful people. The people who donate or work to help the needy are loving and caring people. They all have the love for one another.

(I remember) another difficult time in my family's life. It was nearing Christmas and I had no way of buying my children any Christmas presents. My children were very small and I lived in Michigan. I saw no way possible to buy any presents. I decided to take the calendar off the wall so my children wouldn't know when Christmas day came.

God speaks to people who have plenty. There in that old house - out from any town - things were brought to my family and I from the Salvation Army in Benton Harbor, Mich. that Christmas morning. It was as if God had spoken to many people. These people came with a lot of food, clothing that was the right size for each one of us. Those clothes fit each one of us as if we had been pre-measured, beforehand. There were gifts for my children and surprisingly, things that they had previously asked me to buy them.

The people who believed in the Salvation Army are the ones who give and work for these needy causes. I'm proud to say, "I love the Salvation Army" with all my heart. I want to thank each and every one who cared enough to do their very best when I was needing help. Hopefully, many, many people who have been so fortunate will help others by sharing their Christmas with the needy.

Now that I've come a long way during my life, if strangers come to my door on a holiday or any day, I would invite them in to share a meal with my family and I. Many, many thanks to the Salvation Army of Cape Girardeau.

Sincerely yours

Ruth Ann Standley

Perkins, Mo.