RICHMOND, IN — Two longstanding Salvation Army majors arrived in Muncie and Richmond with big plans.
Majors Charles and Katie Pinkston, who are both generational Salvationists and met each other while in seminary 25 years ago before marrying, are leading both the Muncie and Richmond Salvation Army locations after outgoing Major Bill Welch married and relocated to Goshen, where he now serves.
“On one side of the family, I’m the fourth or fifth generation,” Katie said. “Our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc., were part of the Salvation Army since sort of its beginnings in the east end of London in the 1860s.”
Before arriving in east-central Indiana, the Pinkstons held Salvation Army appointments in such locations as LaPorte, Indiana, Jacksonville, Illinois, El Dorado, Kansas, Muskegon and Manistee, Michigan, and Columbia, Missouri.
The Pinkstons are becoming well acquainted with Richmond, from getting involved with the Kiwanis Club to being guest speakers at the Lions Club.
“We have been tremendously welcomed in this community by everybody,” Katie said. “From city officials and the police department to the local churches, it’s been really wonderful to have such a very nice greeting.”
The Salvation Army is a nondenominational Protestant Christian church and an international charitable organization to help people in need. It is approaching its busiest time of the year with the holiday season. Katie said they are “gearing up for an absolutely amazing Christmas.”
Among events the organization plans for this winter are its annual Christmas bell-ringing donations at Walmart, Kroger, Hobby Lobby and Needlers from Nov. 15 to Dec. 24; a toy and coat drive for families with children ages 15 and younger; and the church’s annual radio-a-thon that has been going on for almost 70 years, scheduled for Dec. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m.
“It’s going to be at the Central United Methodist Church this year,” Katie said of the radio-a-thon’s location. “We’re having people doing calls for donations and we’re taking sponsorships as well for any of our kettles.”
The sign-ups for families and volunteers for the toy and coat drive, meanwhile, start Oct. 28 and Oct. 30 at the Salvation Army’s location at 707 S. A St.
Katie said those signing up families need to bring a head-of-household photo ID, proof of address and everybody in the household, and a Social Security or Medicaid card that would show the last four digits of a Social Security number.
The Pinkstons said promoting and enhancing the Red Kettle Campaign will be one of their initial priorities. They are seeking individuals, groups, churches and other organizations to partner with them.
Volunteers can sign up by visiting registertoring.com and entering Richmond’s ZIP code, 47374, to search for locations, days and times available.
Aside from the holiday events, Katie said the couple also runs a Bible study every Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Army’s location, and there are plans to start toiletry and pet food pantries within the next six months.
“We are here as The Salvation Army because we are saved to serve,” Katie said, “not saved to sit.”
One of the biggest issues facing the organization next month is its food pantry. Because of the government shutdown, Richmond food banks have been unable to provide canned food to the Salvation Army. Leaders have been going to Indianapolis once a month to get food.
The Salvation Army in Richmond has a small membership, Katie said, because it was closed for a short period of time a few years ago.
“It’s only just now starting to get off the ground again,” she said. “It only just recently started in the last two years or so a Bible study on Thursday evenings and the food pantry assistance.”
Katie said anybody can call the Richmond Salvation Army for services Monday through Thursdays starting at 9 a.m. at 765-966-7791.
She said they will typically follow up on calls that aren’t answered within 24 hours, saying they are “all about following up with people.”
“The more people we connect with, the more people we follow up with, the more people are going to be taken care of and served in this particular area,” she said.
Evan Weaver is a news and sports reporter at The Palladium-Item. Contact him on X (@evan_weaver7) or email at eweaver@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Married couple has big plans as new Salvation Army leaders in Muncie and Richmond
Reporting by Evan Weaver, Richmond Palladium-Item / Richmond Palladium-Item
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