For a handful of volunteers from the Tamaqua Salvation Army, the holy mission they are about to embark on this weekend figures to be unlike any of its kind.

Pope Francis is scheduled to make a historic visit to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families Saturday and Sunday, and volunteers from the Tamaqua Salvation Army will be there to assist first responders.Five members of the group will leave Thursday and head to Philadelphia, according to Major Sharon Whispell, pastor for the Tamaqua Salvation Army.Whispell is among the volunteers who will help provide food and beverages for all of the first responders."When we get there, we're basically going to be feeding those that are in need of food every day until Sunday," Whispell said. "I just think it's an amazing event."This particular event will differ from when the group has to assist in emergency disaster services, Whispell said."This is actually kind of an excitement versus going to a disaster where you're anxious and concerned and worried that everybody's OK," she said. "This is uplifting, because they're going into something positive, something encouraging."Whispell said the group will leave Monday morning to return to Tamaqua."We're excited about it; my volunteers are talking about the good that they're going to be doing," she said. "This is a positive feeling, and uplifting feeling that one day they can come back and share with their families."This is uplifting, because they're going into something positive, something encouraging.Major Sharon WhispellTamaqua Salvation Army