Young couple heads into first holiday season as captains of Salvation Army

LACONIA — Captains Steve and Sally Warren have been at their post, leading the Laconia Salvation Army, since July. However, with the many activities over the course of the next month and a half, they could be forgiven if they feel as though their work is just beginning. The Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons are when vulnerable families often find their needs to be most acute, and this year is shaping up to be no exception to that rule. It's also the time of year when the Salvation Army schedules its biggest fundraisers to generate the revenue needed to run the much-needed relief programs.

The Warrens, each 28 years old and parents of an 18-month-old boy, have been married since 2003 and after a few years in civilian careers, they said they felt called to join the ranks of the Salvation Army, an organization that had already played a large role in each of their lives.

The Salvation Army is an organization that requires its officers, if married, for both of the spouses to become officers. Steve explained that the rule is justified because the workload and time commitment would ruin relationships otherwise, and that the Salvation Army's practice of reassigning officers to new posts every five to seven years would make a career outside of the religious organization challenging for the spouse.

It's a lifestyle that Sally knows well, having grown up as the child of Salvation Army officers. She moved a lot during her youth and spent her middle and high school years in Burlington, Vt.

Steve, who grew up in Manchester, got to know the the organization through his local Salvation Army's "Kids' Cafe," in which they offered a warm meal and programs for local young people. "I was there literally every night, escaping a home life that was not so good," Steve said. "It developed into a great relationship from there." Steve and Sally met while they were both working as counselors at Camp Sebago, a summer camp the Salvation Army runs in Maine. Their first assignment was in Derry, where they served from 2007 until coming to Laconia.

The Salvation Army is a religious organization with its roots in the Methodist tradition. The Warrens' primary responsibility is leading the church, which meets inside the Salvation Army building on Union Avenue in Laconia. However, the couple has many other responsibilities that reflect the organization's commitment to community service.

The Salvation Army of Laconia operates a soup kitchen which last year served 9,270 meals, runs a food pantry which last year provided baskets of foods to 631 families. The Salvation Army also runs the Carey House, one of the few homeless shelters in New Hampshire which can accept families and the only shelter in Belknap County. The Warrens plan to re-open a Salvation Army thrift store in the city and plan to start a family-building program.

In the months that they've been in Laconia, they said they've begun to get to know a community that is experiencing some troubling transitions. Sally noted that many storefronts in downtown and surrounding areas are shuttered, and with them went local employment opportunities. "It seems a lot of people are looking for work," she said, and they're forced to look further from home than they'd like, especially those with limited access to transportation.

For a starker view of the community, they only have to look next door, at the Carey House, which has capacity for three families, eight men and six women. Nearly every bed is filled, nealy every night of the year. In just the time since the Warrens have arrived, Steve said the Carey House has counted 400 times they've had to say "no" to someone looking for shelter. Soon the Carey House will open a new wing, offering space for six more men. "We know as soon as we open that wing, it will be filled immediately – we have seen the homeless in this community as a great need," said Steve.

The Laconia Salvation Army runs all of its programs within an operating budget of about $400,000, said Steve. While there is some state funding that helps pay for the Carey House, he said most of their revenues come from local donors who drop a few coins – or better, a few bills – into the red kettles which will very soon be placed throughout the area.

Another big fundraiser for the organization is the annual Turkey Plunge, which will occur this year on Saturday, Nov. 20. The event, which has become a celebrated community happening, sees crowds of people dash into Lake Winnipesaukee from Weirs Beach. The gates will open at 10 a.m., the plunge will occur at 11 and will be followed by a lunch of chili, chowder and soups prepared by many local restaurants and served at the Weirs Beach Lobster Pound. Registration for the event costs $10 and entrants are asked to raise an additional $50 or more in pledges. Registration forms may be picked up at the Salvation Army, at any Meredith Village Savings Bank branch or downloaded from www.salvationarmynh.org/laconia/.

Since coming to Laconia, Steve said, "We have witnessed a community that has faced the harsh reality of what the economy has done. We have also witnessed a community that is so willing to rally and do what needs to be done so we can all come out of this better."

CAPTION for SALVATION ARMY in AA:

Captains Sally and Steve Warren are the new corps officers for the Laconia Salvation Army. They've been at their post since July and are preparing for a busy holiday season. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Adam Drapcho)