Phil Mills, of Niles Salvation Army

Phil Mills, of Niles, has been a volunteer with the Niles Salvation Army for seven years. Mills has helped to oversee the food pantry, which offers families in need up to one week’s worth of groceries at a time. Even during a battle with lymph node and lung cancer last year, Mills continued to volunteer when he was able to do so. Mills has now been in remission for a year and continues to volunteer for three to four hours each day.
In addition, Mills also helps to run the emergency disaster canteen, which serves families during disasters.

How did you get involved?
Years ago when I was a kid, we used to attend Salvation Army Church. I went into the Navy and I retired in 1993. I started coming back to the church and the guy that was running the food pantry mentioned that he needed some help. So I came in and saw what he needed and I have been doing it ever since.

What do you do to help run the food pantry?
We have people that come in to the front desk and they apply for food. What I do is I have system going on back there, where I pack up bags for families for [different sizes].
I just received a large donation from the senior center. They have an excess of their commodities and they donated to us. I just got a shipment of that in.
Any time we have a food drive in the area, I help to pick it up and sort it.

Why did you feel this would be a worthy cause?
I could see that it helps people and they needed some help. It gives me something to do to. I am retired and I will be 75 in June, but it keeps me going.
It is my baby and I wanted to keep running it [after the former pantry coordinator died]. I do not like anyone messing with my food pantry. I enjoy doing it.

Were you volunteering while you were receiving treatment for your cancer?
I tried. Sometimes I would come in for an hour or two. I was trying to do what I could.

What is the most rewarding part of volunteering?
Just the self-satisfaction of helping people and especially if it is kids. You see the smile on their face [especially] around Christmas time when you are helping them out. Sometimes if we have a kid come in I try to find a stuffed animal or something to give to them.
The people themselves, they come in and do not have a drop of food at their house. They come in and get what they need and that gives me a good feeling that I am able to help them out.
I am in a position where I do not need the help and so I am lucky. A lot of people in this area do need the help.
Sometimes if I get excess of a certain item, I will help and give some to Buchanan’s Redbud Area Ministries. I have taken bread over to them at different times. And if they get excess stuff, a lot of times they will call us and see if we can use it.