Jim and Marsha Kaufmann have been married for 54 years. For 22 of those years, they\u2019ve volunteered with The Salvation Army. They\u2019ve responded to so many disasters that they\u2019ve lost count. From Gainesville, Georgia, they\u2019ve been deployed to many weather-related events and were in Valdosta last year for Hurricane Idalia relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy father was a Salvation Army officer,\u201d said Marsha. \u201cAfter he passed away and Jim and I retired, I asked him if he wanted to do something to honor Dad…One thing led to another, and here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jim, a long-time law enforcement officer, and Marsha, a high school secretary, say they both love serving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBoth of us have a servant\u2019s heart,\u201d said Marsha. \u201cI think that is one of our spiritual gifts…we tell everybody that we do this to help you, but the truth is someday it could be us. I say to people, ‘You would be there to serve us, wouldn\u2019t you?’ And people say, ‘Yes, of course.’\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jim and Martha are accustomed to disaster survivors asking why they volunteer, and their answer is simple. \u201cWe love being the hands and feet of Jesus,\u201d says Marsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Lord said, feed my sheep,\u201d added Jim. \u201cYou see such need. Frankly, in many places we go, people could use our help 365 days a year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They say the most challenging part about disaster relief is when they leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt two weeks, when we have to go home, it breaks our heart,\u201d said Marsha. \u201cWe just want to stay and help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The long hours on their feet serving meals to others don\u2019t bother this couple. They are always grateful when they get home, where they say they are reminded of their blessings, and they happily remain on standby for their next deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will be ready,\u201d smiled Marsha. \u201cWe will keep a bag packed, and when we get that phone call, we will be ready to go out the door, and off we\u2019ll go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Christine Rogers<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Jim and Marsha Kaufmann have been married for 54 years. For 22 of those years, they\u2019ve volunteered with The Salvation Army. 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