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Last updated on Monday, May 16, 2016
(BEDFORD) - Lawrence County’s Salvation Army is losing its officer and is in transition to become a service unit staffed by a non-officer.
Capt. Donna Rose, commanding officer for the Salvation Army in Bedford since 2010, is taking a new appointment in Granite City, Ill.
Rose will leave for her new post June 28.
Maj. Bob Webster, divisional commander for the Indiana division of the Salvation Army, says reorganizing from a corps to a service extension unit was a tough, but necessary, decision.
"The Salvation Army and its supporters share a deep commitment to continue to serve those in need in Lawrence County, but it is no longer fiscally responsible for us to continue to operate as a Salvation Army Corps," said Webster in a news release. "Our promise of 'Doing the Most Good' represents not only our services but our stewardship of others' generosity. This reorganization will allow us to continue to do the most good in Lawrence County for years to come."
The reorganized unit will provide for emergency needs such as food, clothing, emergency lodging, rent or utility assistance. There will no longer be worship services offered in Bedford, but will continue to offer Christmas aid to families in need, continue the Red Kettle campaign and remain a United Way agency.
"I want to express to all of you that it is my opinion as a community member, and as a member of the Salvation Army Board, what a loss Donna's leaving will be to the community," Salvation Army Board Member Judge Michael Robbins wrote in an email. "She is truly a wonderful person with a great heart. Plus, she's a outstanding business person! She has literally turned the local SA around. She has made the organization fiscally sound, she's stabilized the deterioration of the building, she's expanded the food distribution of the Salvation Army, she has significantly expanded the Christmas toy and gift distribution effort to those in need, she has established a "warming center" for men to have a place to take a shower, have food and a place to sleep in the winter, and the list goes on."
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