Susan Williams readily admits that helping others is like a job.
“First thing I do is find the coffee pots, clean them out, set the coffee and the tea pots up,” Williams said.
But when she retired to Central Florida from up north, she decided she wanted to give her spare time to a Christian-based, well established organization that really helped people. The Salvation Army fit the bill.
“I love all my seniors. They have different personalities but have love for each and every one of them and just talking to them and sometimes just hearing their stories and sometimes praying with them.”
She works in the kitchen two days a week helping to feed dozens of seniors at the organization's William and Catherine Booth Towers. In addition to doing everything from serving food to cleaning, she also helps backup programs like disaster services and lately has been signing up families to take part in the annual Angel Christmas Tree Program.
“Well I did the registration part where I would sign the families up, the needy families and you fill out forms as to what they want for their kids -- toys. What they want and what they need, which is different.”
In addition to her time here, Susan is a mentor with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, a senior assistant at the YMCA and just signed on as a patient driver for the American Cancer Society.
“I know that one person can't change the world, but one person can make a difference in the world and I just want to be one of them people.”
Susan's allegiance to the Salvation Army actually goes back to her teenage years in Brooklyn. Her apartment was furnished by the Army after she received a voucher from the Department of Social Services.