Salvation Army Honors Rockland Man With 'Others' Award

For more than 20 years, James Waters has spent most of his Saturday mornings volunteering for the Salvation Army, and on Thursday he was honored with the organization’s prestigious “Others” Award for his work. 

The award is typically given at most to one person a year in a given Salvation Army community, and is awarded to a person who has provided service and assistance to the local branch of the national non-profit. It’s the highest award the Salvation Army can bestow on a non-member. 

Waters, of Pearl River, volunteers with the Saturday Canteen Feeding Program, in which he and other volunteers prepare food at the Spring Valley Salvation Army branch and then deliver it to those in Spring Valley who stand outside in hopes of finding work. 

“I’m absolutely honored,” Waters said. “I’m proud to receive the award, but it’s not so much about the award. It’s really about the work we all do. I still get a lot of the program. I have a lot of fun doing it.”

Waters helped start program in January 1993 and said he wanted to get involved with the organization originally because he thought highly of the Salvation Army. He didn’t think he’d end up spending 20-plus years worth of Saturdays volunteering, however. 

“I didn’t think it would be a weekly thing, or ever a monthly thing,” he said. “But as soon as I started working with them, I was having so much fun. The people who I work with are great. The Salvation Army staff, the other volunteers and the people on the street, I just enjoy being around everyone. You meet all kinds of people.”

For many years, Waters said the group was delivering food to 30 to 40 people most weeks. In the last seven or so years, that number has tripled, and now they serve anywhere between 100 to 150 meals a week. 

They have a budget from the Salvation Army, which allows them to get the food from a purchasing co-op. They start their Saturdays at 7 a.m. preparing the food at the Spring Valley location. They then take it in a truck and head out into Spring Valley, stopping at about six or seven locations where workers often times stand, including near the Foodmart International. After delivering the food, they go back to the Spring Valley location and clean up, usually finishing their day between 11-11:30 a.m.

“He’s the most humble guy I know,” said George Pejoves, who has volunteered with the group for the last four years. “Every single Saturday he receives everyone with a hug and a kiss. He’s always very animated and excited. I mean, it’s seven in the morning. Who’s in a good mood? If there’s any angel I know, it’s Jim.”

Additionally, Waters has spent time in leadership roles with Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church in Pearl River and the Hudson River Presbytery. He has also organized monthly birthday parties for patients at Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center and annual Christmas parties for adults at Rockland Psychiatric Center. 

Also honored on Thursday at the 8th annual awards breakfast was Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, which received the “Doing The Most Good” Award.