Her father gave Rita the idea of volunteering with the Salvation Army, and so she did. The people volunteering in the Salvation Army are one of the kindest groups of volunteers out there. They truly make a difference in peoples lives. Walter Stefanacci, Rita's father told her that when he was with the infantry during World War II, the Salvation Army delivered them blankets to keep them warm. They also told them that everything was going to be ok now, giving the soldiers a sense of hope to continue through. Till this very day, he still remembers the kindness that they had showed him. She quickly signed up and was then stationed in the Salvation Army headquarters in Union. The Army needed volunteers in New York on 30th Street at a medical examiners office, known as "the other Ground Zero". Immediately she offered her assistance to them every Thursday. Now keep in mind that this was only supposed to be a few hours each time. But Rita would work 12 hour shifts. She would go there at 12 in the afternoon and leave at 12 midnight. The joy it brought her to be able to sit down, feed and comfort these people was an experience that she would never forget.
Rita enjoyed working there very much, she made a friend who was also working with her. Together they cooked for people, cleaned, served their meals and also gave them occasional hugs when needed. It gave Rita a better outlook on life, she had healed since the tragedy. The ambulance would bring people to them that had bodies so dismembered it was horrific to look at. The firemen would also sit down and take a break with the volunteers. They would feed them lunch and children from school sent letters for the firemen to read. Each time they read a letter tears came streaming down their faces. Rita says that looking back at it 10 years ago, she feels truly honored and blessed to have been able to be a part of such an amazing journey. Volunteering for the Salvation Army turned her whole life around for the better.
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