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It has been a busy first few months for Salvation Army Capt. Kevin Justice, the new commanding officer of the Salvation Army in Wheeling. He said it has been an informative period as well. But he has not plans to slow down, and is hopeful for the future of the Salvation Army in the Northern Panhandle and what it can provide those in need in the region.
Justice was the guest speaker at Tuesday’s Wheeling Rotary Club meeting. A native of North Carolina, Justice worked as a welder and first responder before working for the Salvation Army and joining the ministry. He and wife Wendy have served as commanding officers for the Salvation Army in three cities in North Carolina — Smithfield, Asheboro and Waynesville — before heading the Salvation Army in Richmond, Kentucky, then coming to Wheeling.
Justice discussed the many services the Salvation Army provides to the community, from the Angel Trees to its food pantry and food box distribution to its clothing distributions and thrift store. The Salvation Army headquarters in Wheeling had been serving as an overnight shelter for the Life Hub, but Justice said the Life Hub had decided to return to just one site, though he would like to find a way for the headquarters to be used as a shelter in the colder months.
Mainly, he said, he wants the Salvation Army to be a source of aid in areas that in the most need.
“I’m not a duplication of service person, because I think that’s a waste of resources,” he said. “I’m a person who, if somebody else is doing it, let them do it. We’ll see how it works and if they’re doing it right, that’s great. If not, we might fix it in the end, but let’s find a hole and fill a gap.”
One of the places Justice plans on doing that is hosting meals for those in need on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling is closed on those two holidays, and Justice said the Salvation Army would be happy to host meals on those days.
He’s also interested in increasing transitional housing in the area. While there are places where those who are homeless can stay during the night, Justice would like to see the Salvation Army help build those people up and move them toward more permanent housing.
Justice also would like to increase his organization’s food delivery options. Right now, if those who need that food can’t get to the Salvation Army, they can’t receive it, so Justice has been talking with other groups about either creating a mobile pantry or providing transportation to the headquarters for those who need the food.
“We’re just trying to look at holes and have those conversations,” he said.
With those endeavors, funding is key, Justice said. The Salvation Army will soon begin its annual Red Kettle Campaign, and invited Rotary members and the rest of the community to volunteer as bell ringers for the season. The campaign kickoff is scheduled for Nov. 12 at the Wheeling Park White Palace Ballroom with special guest speaker Hoppy Kercheval.