Our Purpose

The purpose of the Women’s Auxiliary is to support the services and programs of The Salvation Army’s Northeast Florida Area Command. As members of The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, we raise community awareness of The Salvation Army by giving our time and talents with compassion, kindness, gentleness, and humility, letting God’s love show through us in all that we may be asked to do. As we help others, with loving hearts, we are blessed with new friendships and the joy that comes from serving others. The Auxiliary’s primary fundraising event is the Annual Celebrity Chefs Tasting Luncheon. Funds raised from this event support major services and projects of The Salvation Army. For almost 4 decades through the dedicated work, service, and love of The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary hundreds of lives have been touched. Together we meet human needs in God’s name.

Opportunities to Get Involved

There are many committees that can help you find your passion and fuel it through projects throughout the year. Areas of opportunity include:

• Support those fighting addiction by sorting and pricing jewelry for the Adult Rehabilitation Center.
• Support recovery by wrapping Christmas gifts for residents at Christmas.
• Help with the annual fundraiser, Celebrity Chefs by attending, donating funds/items, and serving on a committee.
• Embark on the spirit of Christmas and volunteer to help with taking applications, food sorting, packing Thanksgiving boxes, help with the Thanksgiving Distribution, pick an Angel, fill a stocking, help with gift distribution, or ring a bell at an iconic Christmas Red Kettle.
• Easter Baskets: Provide gifts for children (ages birth to 18 years old) residing at the Towers Center of Hope.
• Forgotten Coins: raise monies for funding of a special project.
• Hospitality: provide refreshments for monthly general meetings
• Kids Kloset: Focus on the children and families when we sort and organize clothing.
• Social Services (Disaster Services, Food Pantry and Night Feeding)
• Telephone: Provide a vital link between The Amy and the auxiliary by making calls to members as needed.

Become a Member

Types of Membership

1^st Time New Members: $25

Active: $50 annual dues

Life Members: Upon request and approval by the Auxiliary Executive Board a Lifetime member is one who has donated a minimum of $1,000 without further payment of dues, service, or attendance at meetings, though such service is desired and encouraged.  They shall have all rights and privileges of membership, including the right to vote, hold office and propose new members.

Auxiliary Board Officers for 2024-2025

President                                                      NeeCee Lee

1st Vice President (Program)                        Michele Kehnert

2nd Vice President (Membership)               Diane Bailey

3rd Vice President(s) (Project-CCL)             Rita Cannon, Susie O’Quinn and Debbie Veale

President Elect                                             Carol Blodgett

Recording Secretary                                    Georgeann Roeder

Corresponding Secretary                            Leyda Garcia

Treasurer                                                      Melina Buncome

Assistant Treasurer                                       Pat Schneider

Back-up Recording Secretary                      Esther Tomaszewski

Historian                                                       Carol Blodgett

Parliamentarian                                            Jennifer Roberts

Devotional Chairman                                   Courtney Fox

Nominating Chairman                                  Linda Tuschinski

Philanthropic                                                 Debra Register

Advisors                                                        Michele Kehnert, Dianne Lott and Susie O’Quinn

Committee Chairs:

Adult Rehabilitation Center Jewelry Gems: Rita Cannon and Courtney Fox

Christmas: Diane Bailey

Easter Baskets: Rita Cannon and Debbie Veale

Forgotten Coins: Dianne Lott & Susie O’Quinn

Hospitality - Kerri Napoleon

Kids Kloset - Diane Bailey

Telephone - Anna Roman

A Letter From Our Women's Auxiliary President

The Northeast Florida Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary functions as a fundraising and volunteer service group to support The Salvation Army services, which help men, women, and children throughout Florida’s First Coast. We are comprised of women with hearts for service.

The Women’s Auxiliary upholds the mission of The Salvation Army while supporting the programs of The Army with our time, talents, and treasures.  Auxiliary members meet monthly for fellowship, to enjoy a guest speaker, share refreshments and to report on projects.

Opportunities to volunteer are prevalent all year long. In the spring we make Easter baskets for the children at the Tower Center of Hope.  Spring is also when our main fundraiser “Celebrity Chef Tasting Luncheon and Silent Auction” kicks off.  In its 38th year the auxiliary has raised over 2 million dollars which has resulted in northeast Florida Salvation Army programs “wish lists” being fulfilled. We assist summer campers with Camper Care Kits.  During the fall we roll into the school year filling backpacks with school supplies, gather food items for distribution during Thanksgiving, serve the Christmas Angel Tree program and Toy Shop efforts and faithfully ring bells with the Red Kettle program.  We also enjoy sorting bins of jewelry for the Adult Rehabilitation Center Thrift Store.

We are a “sisterhood.”  We help build community relationships and offer compassion and hope.  Our shared Christian faith brings us together, and together we can have a significant impact.  If you, too, would like to make a difference, we invite you to become a member of The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary.

Ephesians 2:10 informs us “we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”