The Salvation Army exists to meet human needs, and Carolyn Ross said that’s exactly what it does.

Ross, who has eight children, said she doesn’t know how she would get by without the Salvation Army.

“They provide so many activities,” she said. “Especially during the summer. They have their robotics team, which is excellent.”

Ross said she never knew what that was, but her son is now programming robots on computers.

“I’m 42, and I didn’t even know that was possible,” she said.

Ross said her children are involved in every program The Salvation Army has to offer.

“They come up here for church, they have dance practice, they go to camp, and its pretty much an everyday thing,” she said. “It’s something to keep my kids occupied and off the streets.”

Ross said sometimes it’s hard for her to find things for her children to do during the summer, but The Salvation Army has helped keep her children out of trouble.

“It gives the kids something to do and a choice to go this way or that way,” she said. “It’s amazing and they love coming.”

The Salvation Army has also given the children help with school, Ross said.

“They’re here to help,” she said. “It’s kind of hard because I have eight kids.”

Ross said she really doesn’t want her children, Martavious Ross, 4, Clara Ross, 7, E’cara Ross, 8, Deoisha Malane, 10, Quentarius Ross, 11, Zamarious Ross, 12, Mikael Ross, 17 and Travian Ross, 18, to end up with the wrong crowd.

“If it goes that way I’m going to be looking at them going to the detention center and from the detention center to the jailhouse,” she said. “This helps me to try to lean my children in the right direction.”

Ross said the programs offered by The Salvation Army are exceptional.

“It basically provides for the community, and that is something that the community sorely needs,” she said. “They provide anything, food, clothes, or if you’re on your last luck, they will put you up in a hotel room.”

Ross said The Salvation Army’s success is due in part to Capt. Srikant Bhatnagar.

“He’s just a generally good guy,” she said. “You’ll find some people are kind of hot-headed, but he’s so easy to talk to, even though he is a captain.”

Monday, Ross spent part of the morning cleaning up in the kitchen, and she said it’s important to give back to an organization that his given her and her family so much.

“I’m going to lend my hand, because they’ve given me so much,” she said. “I’m going to camp with them to send them off.”

To donate to The Salvation Army send a check to 530 Mission 66, Vicksburg, MS 39183, or to make a donation online, visit www.salvationarmyalm.org/vicksburg.

The Salvation Army also accepts donations of clothing, shoes and furniture to sell in its thrift store.

Old, unusable clothing goes into bales, which The Salvation Army is able to sell as well.