Salvation Army

A former homeless veteran cooked up a Thanksgiving feast for more than 250 people at the Salvation Army's Thanksgiving meal Wednesday.  “It's important to give back what was given to me, and that was help when I needed it,” said James Rhinehart, the cook for the Salvation Army's Daily Feeding Program. “These people are human beings just like everybody else.” Rhinehart said the program on busy days typically provides meals for around 170 people, but that number went up for Thanksgiving.

The Salvation Army kicked off its holiday kettle drive Monday at Valley Mall, and as members of the organization spoke, holiday music played and a $1,000 check exchanged hands. “We have only one goal this season, and that goal is to bring hope to men and women and boys and girls,” said Maj. Robert Lyle, commanding officer of The Salvation Army in Washington County. “We live in the greatest country in the world, we have the greatest amount of freedom of any nation, but we still have problems here in America, and in Hagerstown, it's no different.” Salvation Army Advisory Board member Ward Childerston began the kickoff by telling a story about a gift he received when he was 5 years old. “My father built a toy barn for me,” he said.

Today, it is the site of a new facility for The Salvation Army, but it used to be a dump. When crews started digging at the site for the new Shifler Family Community Center on George Street, they found the remains of a dump, said Maj. Robert D. Lyle, who runs the center with his wife, Karen. During a dedication of the center Sunday afternoon, Lyle said he told crews digging at the site that unless there were some Indian graves or some evidence connected to Al Capone, they were not to say anything about the dump.

Despite being nearly $200,000 short of its fundraising goal, The Salvation Army has started construction of a $1.8 million project in Hagerstown that includes new offices, a gymnasium and renovation of the organization's existing women's and children's shelter. Salvation Army Maj. Robert Lyle said Monday he was hopeful that donors would step up to contribute the rest of the money. “We do have a lot of folks in this community who are sympathetic to what we're doing,” Lyle said.

Hagerstown resident Amber Stouffer carefully surveyed a sea of donated toys and picked out some stuffed animals that she plans to give to her 13-month-old daughter on Christmas morning. “I just want to make sure my daughter has a good Christmas this year,” she said. Stouffer was among hundreds of Washington County parents who participated Tuesday in the annual toy/food giveaway sponsored by the Salvation Army and the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program. The event was held in the former CVS Pharmacy building at Long Meadow Shopping Center north of Hagerstown.

The Salvation Army Christmas Dinner committee continues to prepare for the big dinner it serves Christmas Day. Committee members have been collecting food and presents for those who either need a meal delivered or who will come to the door of The Salvation Army's building at 159 Lincoln Way West in Chambersburg for dinner, according to a news release from committee chairwoman Lynne Newman. Although the meal and other preparations are done at The Salvation Army building, the committee wants to make sure the day does not take away from the great work the organization does throughout the year in feeding those in need, Newman said.

A man wanted in a Salvation Army kettle robbery last month in the Chambersburg, Pa., area was taken into custody Wednesday morning in Waynesboro, and is accused of trying to take an officer's gun during the arrest, police said. Robert Stokes, 19, of 3524 Brook St., Greencastle, Pa., was arrested at 8:31 a.m. on a warrant charging him with robbery. He was turned over to Pennsylvania State Police, who investigated the robbery on Warm Spring Road in Hamilton Township, Pa., according to a Waynesboro police news release.

Research and strategy were among the requirements for fruitful shopping trips as thousands of residents descended on area stores on Black Friday. "We got started at 7:30 last night," said Candice Gilliland of Shirleysburg, Pa., in Huntingdon County. With her husband, Brett, and neighbor, Tricia Morgan, they came directly to Hagerstown, hitting Walmart first. "We scoped out all the electronics we wanted and strategically placed ourselves" around the store to limit shopping and checkout time, Gilliland said.

The red plastic kettles that started appearing in Washington County on Monday are a symbol of The Salvation Army's mission to serve others, said Amy Whittington, chairwoman of the local Salvation Army's advisory board. For some, the kettles and bell ringers are a cheery sign of the holiday season, Whittington told those gathered at the Valley Mall's Food Court on Monday as The Salvation Army kicked off its holiday fundraising drive. Others might see the kettles as an inconvenience or feel a twinge of guilt as they walk by and realize they have no cash in their pocket, said Whittington, admitting to the latter on occasion.

Robert Nelson “Big Chief” Coles, 82, of Waynesboro, Pa., died Friday, Oct. 21, 2011, at his home. Born Aug. 1, 1929, in Shamokin, Pa., he was the son of the late William Robert and Verna Mae (Doub) Coles. Robert devoted his life to putting faith into practice through prayer, Scripture and music. He served five years as a Salvation Army officer. In 1962, he entered the Volunteers of America as an ordained minister and officer. Known as “Big Chief” Bob Coles, he developed accredited youth and Christmas programs in Elmira, N.Y. Arriving in Hagerstown, Big Chief Coles continued to organize accredited programs by establishing group homes for boys and girls.