Amelia Harper: Summer brings season of endings, beginnings, transition for Salvation Army

As we enter the summer months at The Salvation Army in Rocky Mount, which serves Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson counties, we are entering a season of sad endings, new beginnings and transition.

Captains Wayne and Claudia Meads, who have served this area for three years as officers for The Salvation Army, are being transferred to the Adult Rehabilitation Center in Hampton Roads, Va. During their tenure here at the N.E.W. Salvation Army, housed at 1000 Hunter Hill Road in Rocky Mount, the organization dedicated its new service center at the Hunter Hill location (the Penny Barnhill Center for Worship and Service), reopened the Salvation Army Family Thrift Store in Wilson, relocated the Salvation Army Family Thrift Store in Tarboro and remodeled the store in Rocky Mount located behind the KFC on U.S. 301.

The local office also launched its newest program, the Joshua’s Challenge Literacy Program, which now serves four elementary schools in Nash and Edgecombe counties. As this school year winds down, we soon plan to add a fifth school in the upcoming academic year.

While we are saddened to see the Meads and their sweet family leave the area, we know they are looking forward to a fruitful ministry in Virginia working with men who are battling addictions and working to get their lives on track.

Captains Devin and Lara Sassano, who are currently serving in Concord, will be joining us here as officers later this month. The board members, employees and our community partners are looking forward to learning more about this amazing couple when they begin their service here. We will be introducing them to the community in a variety of ways later this summer.

While summer is a time of rest and relaxation for many, we would like to remind the community that the work of The Salvation Army never ends. In fact, many families fare worse during the summer months with increased utilities bills and greater demands for food resources now that school is out of session.

At this time, we especially need non-perishable food for our food pantry and welcome all donations. We also are in greater need of financial resources as we near the end of our fiscal year in September. Anyone interested in helping meet the needs of others in the community can learn more at our website: newsalvationarmy.org or through our Facebook page. We are also available by phone at (252) 446-4496.

We look forward to working with you all to help our neighbors in need.