Norwich - It's pretty typical for Salvation Army cadets to be assigned to a local ministry for a practicum before become a commissioned officer, but Norwich Capt. Jerry Uttley told newly assigned cadet Cheryl McCollum to expect "a well rounded experience" in Norwich for the next month.

The Salvation Army helps families and individuals in distress at holiday time, but this year, it's the Norwich Salvation Army that is homeless and operating out of temporary quarters in three different downtown locations.

McCollum, 41, originally from Hartford, was assigned to Norwich by the Salvation Army College for Officer Training in Suffern, N.Y., to help the agency get through the busy Christmas season.

Kettle drive

McCollum arrived Saturday, and after a brief time to settle in, she said "they put me right to work." She met the red kettle collection staff, visited some kettle locations and then counted kettle collection amounts until midnight.

The kettle drive has collected $14,000 toward this season's goal of $80,000, Uttley said.

"Just from my experience over the last two days, I've already learned a lot," McCollum said during a break Sunday at the Salvation Army's temporary office in the basement of the United Congregational Church at 87 Broadway.

An Aug. 24 fire caused heavy damage to the first floor of the Salvation Army's building at 262 Main St., destroying kitchen equipment, food pantry supplies and donated clothing. The building won't be repaired for several months, forcing the agency to find temporary quarters for the holiday season.

In addition to the rented space in the church basement, the agency is running its Christmas gift and food collection and distribution service out of the donated art gallery at Artspace at 35 Chestnut St. and is holding Sunday church services at the rented former Cornerstone International Church at 169 Franklin St.

McCollum will get the chance to preach there during the 10 a.m. service on Dec. 14. The service is open to the public.

"I'm watching the community come together to help out the Salvation Army," McCollum said. "That's God at work in this community."

McCollum joined the Salvation Army 13 years ago, initially attending services to support her sister, who was in the Hartford Salvation Army's Adult Rehabilitation Center, an inpatient substance abuse center.

"The Salvation Army saved my family," McCollum said.

McCollum was caring for her sister's three daughters and brought them to visit their mother on Sundays, staying for the Sunday church service. What she heard spoke to her as well. McCollum was in a relationship that wasn't working and she worried about her three teenage and younger sons.

McCollum was laid off from her job at Cigna in Hartford when she decided to join the Salvation Army. The agency requires officers to cut off their previous occupations, and McCollum saw the layoff as God's sign that she was heading in the right direction. Her sons went to live with their father in North Carolina.

"I was afraid I would lose them to the streets of Hartford," she said - when she entered the officer training program.

McCollum is on track to become a commissioned lieutenant and a Salvation Army pastor when she completes the program in June. As is typical, cadets have no idea where they might be assigned, but McCollum looks forward to any assignment that involves helping people in need, as her family once was. Her sister is now a Salvation Army officer stationed at the Adult Recovery Center in Jersey City. Another sister works for the YMCA in East Hartford.

"Everything the Army represents is everything I was feeling at the time (I joined)," McCollum said. "The ability to love people is what I didn't experience growing up."

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday

How to help

The Norwich Salvation Army seeks volunteers to help run the Christmas red kettle collection drives. Volunteers also are needed to help organize gifts and food baskets on Dec. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Artspace Gallery, 35 Chestnut St., Norwich.

For information or to volunteer, contact the Salvation Army temporary office at 87 Broadway, Norwich. (860) 889-2329