It’s been said the “mind is a terrible thing to waste” and for Selma’s Salvation Army it wants to make sure that the minds of area seniors are put to good use. On Sept. 1, the Salvation Army Women’s Ministry will make educational crafts for seniors and take them to area nursing homes. Maj. Tonya Roberts said it’s important for seniors to keep their minds active.

“We try to keep them (seniors) viable,” Roberts said. “Just because you’re in the nursing home doesn’t mean you’re dead. It’s good to keep their skills going. If we don’t use the skills we have, we’ll lose them.”

Though a set craft hasn’t yet been decided upon, the group tries to complete a craft for each holiday. Using education, service, worship and fellowship as its platform, the organization creates crafts and cards for all three nursing homes — Warren Manor, Park Place and Lighthouse and an assisted living center, one Saturday each month.

“We see about 300 seniors every month,” Roberts said. “We’ll probably do something that will go with Labor Day. We try to do a flower or a card with a scripture verse. On Veterans Day we salute the vets, on Grandparent’s Day we do something and at Christmas we deliver gifts — blankets, something they can use throughout the year.”

The Salvation Army, Roberts said, wants to show seniors they’re loved.

“It brightens their day when we come to say ‘hello’ and we give them a little book (salvation army publication) and say God bless,” Roberts said. “We leave a card in each room and sing praise and worship songs.

“Like our mission ‘Heart to God, hand to man,’ we want to reach out and pour out our hearts to people who can’t do things for themselves,” Roberts said. “We want to let seniors know we care for them.”

The women’s ministry meets every Thursday at 6 p.m. at its Franklin Street location. The group gets monies from weekly fees and public donations. Roberts said there are even more events planned this month.

“On Sept. 10 we’ll have a yard sale at our thrift store on Broad Street that will start at 7 a.m.,” Roberts said. “We’ll also have a revival service Sept. 12 through 16 at 6 p.m. and Debbie Domer will be our guest speaker.”

For more information about September’s programs and how you can help in giving efforts, call 872-1646.