Jerry Seals, of Buchanan, is a volunteer with the Redbud Area Ministries — a nonprofit organization that offers a food pantry, clothing, household items and limited financial assistance programs to those in need in Buchanan and Galien.

Seals has worked for RAM for the past year and volunteers in the food pantry and clothing ministry. In addition to his work with RAM, Seals is also an avid volunteer with the Niles Salvation Army.

Those around the community might see him braving the winter cold to ring a bell to collect funds for the Salvation Army during their holiday fundraiser. Additionally, Seals conducts his own ministry program for the homeless in Niles, where he hands out sleeping bags, food and pamphlets that relay information on the local service organizations.

How did you get involved with you volunteer work with RAM?

I moved back over here two years ago [from Chicago], because I wanted to be closer to home. While I was in Chicago, I was a team leader in the food pantry and care center at Little Creek Community Church. So, I needed something to get involved in when it came back [to Buchanan]. I came to RAM and signed up to volunteer and it helped me to get involved with the Niles Salvation Army, too.

What drew you to RAM and the Niles Salvation Army?

I searched the area for places to volunteer and since RAM was primarily concerned with the Buchanan and Galien, area that is where I wanted to concentrate. I knew the Salvation Army was always looking for volunteers, so I went over there and met with them and they signed me up. I have been there doing that ever since, a little over a year now, about the same amount of time that I have been working with RAM. The homeless ministry I started a little over a year ago and I have been doing it throughout the past year as time permits.

What do you enjoy about working with RAM?

The thing that I enjoy the most is being able to serve the needy and spend time with them, servicing their needs and praying with them. Also, the people that serve here — my fellow teammates  — are the kind of people I want to hang around with. They are very spiritual, caring, very loving and just a wonderful group of people that serves here. I just feel truly blessed that God let me in here. I have been coming here every Tuesday since. It is just a wonderful place to serve that does a lot for the needy in Buchanan and Galien areas and I could not be happier about that.

Why would you encourage other people to volunteer in their local communities?

Primarily because there are so many needy people. People don’t realize how many are out there, until they get involved in an organization like this. It is the same with the homeless industry. Until I started that I had no idea there were so many homeless in the Niles-Buchanan area. I think people would not believe, until you get involved, how much good these organizations do in the area.