"Nothing gets past Dorothy," says Tom Middleton of the Salvation Army.

Dorothy Johnson has been a

volunteer receptionist at The Salvation Army for the past five years and she has been a volunteer for ten years.

She is the first person that anyone who comes into the Salvation Army office meets. She started out working in the Thrift Store but standing on cement floors hurt her feet so she went to Captain Wilson and he said there was a place for Johnson in the office as a receptionist.

Johnson said, "One thing I have found out being a volunteer receptionist is that it is very rewarding. I meet people from all walks of life."

Johnson's hours are Monday through Friday noon to 4 p.m.

When her duties are completed on Mondays and Tuesdays she goes upstairs to the dining room and sets the table for the Community Meals, The Salvation Army offers these meals to anyone in town. They especially like to connect with people that are financially burdened or lonely.

"The Community Meal is a time for fellowship and networking with others. It is open to children and those who are physically disabled. I assign tables to the guests after they go through the food line and I lead the table prayer," said Johnson.

Johnson lives at the Twin Towers and has been active all her life. She was married for 39 years to Leonard and they had two children, Kaylene who lives in Austin

and Steven who resides in Wabasha. Kaylene has two children Trendon and Bredon. Johnson did child care for seven children in her younger days out of her home. She enjoyed watching other people's children and the children liked Dorothy, as they called

her .

"One day I got a call from a mother and she said her sons wouldn't eat her peanut butter sandwiches because they weren't they way Dorothy made them.

I laughed because I cut the sandwiches in different shapes with cookie cutters.

I had to be one step ahead of the kids when I took care of them," said Johnson.

That is how Johnson is, very personable and loves working with others.

She is friends with the other volunteers and whenever she is out and about someone invariable comes up to her and says," I know you! You work at the Salvation Army."

"If I didn't volunteer like I do,

I

would probably sit in my apartment thinking about my aches and pains. I love this job and all the people I meet. When I come home at night I have a good feeling that I have accomplished something. I know in my heart I have helped someone," said Johnson.