Three days a week, 81-year-old Lucy Martin of Goderich, Ont., helps someone through The Salvation Army. The rest of the time, she is busy gathering items that can benefit others, such as eyeglasses for the developing world, pop-can tabs for wheelchairs and grocery store receipts.

“I get 75 packs of 1,000 receipts, take them to Zehrs [the local grocery store] and in a week or two, our church receives a cheque that we use to support missionary families,” says Martin, who attends Suncoast Citadel in Goderich. “I have lots of people who save the receipts for me.”

For 25 years, Martin helped out at the Army's thrift store and has been visiting seniors at the Maitland Manor nursing home through the Army's community care ministries for 39 years, 12 of which have been spent with residents in palliative care.

“I mostly just sit and talk to them,” she says. “With me, there's always something to talk about! I enjoy doing it and I hope when I leave them that they've had a little chuckle and are happy.”

Martin is used to caring for others. She looked after her parents, husband and some of her brothers before they passed away. “It can be difficult to help in palliative care, but families really appreciate it,” she says.

Martin also hosts the kettles at Christmas, completing 48 hours last year, volunteers at a food bank every Tuesday and visits shut-ins. One woman she went to see had been having difficulties with her hearing aid, so Martin arranged to have it repaired.

“The woman said to me, 'You're an angel!' ” says Martin. “Volunteering is very rewarding and gives you a good feeling inside. As long as the Lord looks after me and gives me my health, I'll help others.

“Jesus first, yourself last and others in-between. I give God all the credit.”

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