The Salvation Army needs you. It has its officers and some big donors, but it needs more foot soldiers, those of us who can kick in $25 or $50 to help the Army's building and improvement program. It's doing a marvelous job of helping needy families and individuals achieve more successful lives but existing facilities are strained.

So give a little and help a lot. Call 522-3209 in Modesto and 667-6091 in Turlock to make your donation or find other ways you can help.

Speaking of helpers, hats off to doctors of the Stanislaus County Family Practice Residency Program who spend the fourth Sunday of each month providing free medical care to the homeless at Moose Park where La Loma Avenue crosses Dry Creek in Modesto.

They are practicing what they preach, trying to provide preventive care so that relatively little problems now don't develop into major medical problems later. They are helping people in need and also helping to prevent some chronic illnesses that the rest of us would be helping to pay for later.

And speaking of money, there's still time to make a $5 investment today so you can be better prepared to handle your personal finances. Just about every facet of financial planning will be covered at the series of workshops and presentations beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Modesto Junior College Student Center on the east campus.

We're one of the sponsors and can assure you there will be plenty of good information available throughout the day, right up to the half-hour closing session which begins at 3:45. Give it a try; you will get your money's worth.