BRIDGEPORT – Major Lydia Pearson, Bridgeport Corps Officer, welcomed her "elite group of volunteers," guests from Divisional Headquarters, Advisory Board members, and friends, to her Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Wednesday evening, February 6th, at the Bridgeport Corps on Elm Street. The opening remarks were brief so that Major Pearson could get right to the business at-hand… "thanking the volunteers."

Individuals and groups were recognized for the following activities: Bell Ringing, Advisory Board participation, Target Back-to-School Shopping Spree, Food Pantry, Angel Tree, Emergency Disaster Services, general Cleanup and Maintenance, and Church Activities.

(Ladies from Nutmeg Alumnae Chapter of Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority.)

The volunteers that were awarded certificates were: Shirley Evans, Dr. Gladys Gress, Sarah Burns, Robert Deibert, Michael Richards, Bridgeport Fire Department, Bridgeport Rotary Club, Bridgeport Kiwanis Club, Nutmeg Alumnae Chapter of Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority, Tavon Wallace, Ronshay Smith, Michael Burke, Sonia Diaz, Melissa Morales, Richard Moccaie, Keith Nelson, Tom Kanasky, James Murphy, Michael and Barbara Brown, Kemar Grant, Lakisha Hall, and Robert McClain.

According to the United Way, in Connecticut, the established price (or dollar value) assigned to a volunteer is $27.77 per hour. The Salvation Army’s Bridgeport Corps had 2,873 hours of volunteer service last year. This is the equivalent of $79,783.21. Or as Major Pearson likes to say about her volunteers… priceless!

"We could not do our work without the help of our volunteers. We are truly blessed to have such dedicated men and women, and youngsters too, who have a desire to help people who are less fortunate," warmly remarked Major Pearson.