Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A crowd of people gathered in front of the Salvation Army on Wednesday morning for the ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of the Army’s new expansion. Aside from Georgia SA service extension director Jim Morrow, Mayor Edward Reynolds was also present for the ceremony, with the BHS band also performing and the BHS AFJROTC  presenting the American flag for the pledge. The expansion, which has been in development since 2019, provides additional warehouse space that will contain both a food pantry, as well as storage space for unsold goods. In addition to the new warehouse, the Army’s main office space was also remodeled.

Bainbridge SA director Merreann McDonald and board member Theresa Hall both welcomed attendees and recognized special guests, after which Morrow took to the podium to speak. “This is a tremendous support to the Salvation Army,” he said. “I realize I am a stranger to many of you. I’m not a native. However, more than 30 years ago, I stood on this ground that we stand on toady, and we dedicated the Salvation Army Service Center.” He continued, “I never could have imagined how the Lord would use the work and the mission of the Salvation Army, and the Bainbridge community, to serve your neighbors… We appreciate your support over the last 30+ years.”

Morrow went on to introduce Major Algerome “Al” Newsome, Divisional Commander for the Salvation Army Georgia Divisional Headquarters.

“About 36 years ago, I stood in front of the United States flag in a Marine Corps recruiting office, and I gave an oath of office, that I would defend the United States from enemies, foreign and domestic,” Newsome said. According to Newsome, this had him ponder the notion of a united country. “If you look at the news today, you will find that we seem to be more than anything but ‘united’. There seems to be divisions and factions everywhere you look,” he said. “But we still are a United States of America. And as I look at this facility and the work that has been done, and all the people that are surrounding here today, I see a united people.”

Newsome went on to read from Ecclesiastes 4:9, which focused on the importance of working together rather than alone. “I share that with you today, because I believe that, with the strength of the Salvation Army, and this community, and our Lord Jesus Christ, ‘a three-fold cord’, there is not anything that we can’t accomplish together in this community.”

After Newsome finished speaking and the ceremony’s prayer was given, Mayor Reynolds addressed the audience. “The Salvation Army has done so much for our community over the last 30 years,” he said. “We can all look back to floods, tornadoes, and major, major events that affect our community, but to me, the most important thing is the thing they do every day, and they serve those individuals that are lost in our community, as a beacon of hope.”

Chamber of Commerce president Karen Tobin spoke next. “As the Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce,” she said, “I would like to extend my congratulations to the Salvation Army on this significant achievement.”

Following the speeches, the ribbon was cut, and attendees were offered a tour of the new facilities, with snacks available for attendees in the new warehouse.