Even though her own family is financially strapped, Debi Nicholson has been a full-time volunteer at the Salvation Army this Christmas season.
Monday through Saturday, Nicholson leaves her house in Cearfoss at 3:30 p.m. She transports kettle workers and brings the red collection pots back to the Franklin Street office to count the money. Some nights, she doesn't get home until after midnight.
Yet she says she is privileged to serve the Salvation Army in Hagerstown, where she also goes to church.
"I just think it's a wonderful thing. There's so many volunteers. They're just so wonderful and so nice. They're always smiling," she said.
During the day, Nicholson, 35, home schools her 8-year-old son Richard II and takes care of her 2-year-old daughter, Evangeline.
Her husband, Richard, is between jobs right now. He has taken over her duties of cooking, cleaning and laundry.
Nicholson has been involved with the Salvation Army since her parents started taking her to church there as a little girl.
