Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Capt. Charles Osborn feels like he's become part of a well-oiled machine.
The Salvation Army officer was assigned to the Warsaw post in July. Like his predecessors, he is amazed by the community's sense of generosity and its level of volunteerism.
"The major difference between Warsaw and other communities is the way the board and Auxiliary gets involved," he said Monday. "One of the hardest things for me has been having people pitch in ... and it's wonderful. I'm used to being a lone ranger."
Reassigned from New Castle, Osborn has been with the Salvation Army for 10 years. Single, he is originally from Michigan.
He replaces Majors David and Jeanette Biggs, who were reassigned to Kokomo.
"I'm a processor," Osborn said of himself. "I like to see what's going on, how it works and make sure we're all on the same page.
"The women's auxiliary here is exceptional, they're the 'poster ladies' of all the auxiliaries."
The auxiliary sold six tons worth of various nuts during their annual sale this year, setting another record.
"They're the top seller in the country," said the Salvation Army's community relations director Ken Locke.
Locke expects a 15 percent increase in the number of needy families this Christmas season.
"There are still a lot of people out of work," he said. "Even after we clear names we'll have well over 300 families to help this year."
Clearing names is a process the Salvation Army undertakes with Combined Community Services so all families needs are met and none are served by both agencies.
For the 15th year the Army has "planted" Angel Trees at area businesses - Kmart, Biomet, Medtronic, First United Methodist Church and DePuy. The trees have tags with the gender and age of a child who needs one nice set of clothing and a toy. Donors select a tag and buy gifts for that child.
Folks start calling for Angel Tree tags at the first of November, Locke said.
The Army's League of Mercy program will provide close to 500 nursing home residents with gifts and food in Syracuse, Milford and Warsaw.
