ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Salvation Army in Rochester is looking for more volunteers for it’s Adult Day Program.

The program is for people who can’t live independently but also don’t need to be in a full-time care facility. Rebecca Snapp works with the program and says many of their participants are stroke survivors, people with brain injuries, dementia, or Alzheimer’s.

On Facebook, the program is looking for more volunteers, but not because they have a shortage. The day center works with participants on retaining their memory and Snapp said new volunteers help with that goal.

“New groups of people…gives them the opportunity to tell their stories and share their experiences with new people,” she said. “So, when they have new faces and new people to interact with in some way, that's a big part of what we're trying to do here.”

Art is also a big part of the program. Snapp said she can see the benefits art therapy has on the participants, and science backs it up. According to Psychology Today, art therapy can help people understand emotions, communicate better or express themselves, and build self-esteem.

“They don't get to do new things very often, they don't get to say that they've learned something new very often,” Snapp said. “So be able to take that home and take that experience and for their caregivers to know that's something available for them too…it’s wonderful.”

To volunteer with the program, you can call Snapp at (507) 288-3663.