Salvation Army officers, Captain Jennifer and Shane Hillier will be moving on from their post in Drumheller after three years of service to the community.
At the first of July the Hilliers will be succeeded by a couple transfering from the Lethbridge Salvation Army, Isabelle and Ben Lippers.
“It has been an absolute joy working with Shane and Jennifer, I have been very blessed to be able to serve alongside such a caring and passionate team. The legacy they leave is apparent in the major developments they have pioneered such as our new building project but also in the mark they leave on the lives of people in our community through their kindness and generosity,” said Salvation Army community and family services director Janessa McAuly.
Looking back on their time here with the organization, which offers important community services such as the food bank, Jennifer said what stands out about Drumheller is the collaborative nature of the community.
“People really rally together to support what’s important for the community as a whole and it has been an incredible experience to be immersed in the community and to be a part of working toward the greater good for us all,” said Jennifer.
“The number of volunteer hours and the way people open up to give monetary donations and other support is incredible.”
Drumheller is a small town and there are not many other service providers who offer integral services, particularly the food bank, she said. The Salvation Army also works with people in other areas of their life.
“It’s not just giving out food, but helping people get resources and advocating for them in certain circumstances, helping them budget and look at finances.”
The Salvation Army will move into their new facility in the former ATCO building on Highway 10 at the end of July where all their services — the food bank, thrift store, and church — will be under one roof. The move will help the organization become more effective and efficient, said Jennifer.
Moving forward, Jennifer said the next captains will have unique challenges to deal with in this community.
“Over the past few years we’ve seen the needs of the community with the downturn in the economy and we still see how that impacts the community in specific ways. So for us it is a constant evaluation of the needs of the community to see what we can do.”
One of the specific needs they have seen is growing social isolation. In response they created Sally’s Corner Cafe as a place where individuals can meet new people and socialize.
“We are going to miss the people in this community and I want to say thank you to everyone for supporting us and welcoming us here. It has been a great experience.”
Look for an interview with the next Salvation Army captains at the end of July in The Drumheller Mail.
