The Salvation Army's work throughout the United States is greatly enhanced by volunteers. From ringing the bell at Salvation Army kettles during the Christmas season to working with young people in character-building activities, Salvation Army volunteers run the gamut of service in every Army program. There are approximately 3.5 million volunteers registered with The Salvation Army in the U.S. Citizens of every community, from every walk of life, greatly extend the scope of The Salvation Army's service. In short, volunteers' assistance enables The Salvation Army to meet far more needs than it could without their help. A volunteer is a person who enters into Salvation Army service of his or her own will and does not receive any material compensation for services rendered. Volunteers provide direct service to clients and are able to focus on one task and give undivided attention to it. Volunteers bring diversity in terms of age, race, social background, and approach. They increase the efficiency of The Salvation Army by providing "extra hands" to perform God's work.