Salvation Army leaders leaving Casa Grande, successful programs
"People need to know what we are doing," said Koenig, who with his wife Angelina runs the administration and programs at the Salvation Army. "It's good PR. They want to know what we are doing. It's so people can say 'we saw you'. I put a couple of magnetic shields on the van and when people see the big white van they know we are working in the community."
From this small step the Koenigs took on a greater mission - most significantly increasing the budget and programming at the non-profit agency located at Center Avenue and McMurray Boulevard.
After serving the needs of the community during their tenure in Casa Grande, the Koenigs are pleased with what they have accomplished. On Thursday the Salvation Army was recognized by the United Way of Pinal County as the Agency of the Year and Program of the Year for a computer program at the Campaign Achievement and Recognition Reception held at the Paramount Theatre.
The computer lab was honored for its community outreach. "He (Koenig) secured the donation of laptops, but United Way was happy to step in to provide the salary of the lab coordinator and the software," said Executive Director Bill Ludeke of the United Way of Pinal County. "It fits right in with the United Way's literacy focus. We think the world of the Casa Grande Salvation Army and the Koenigs in particular.
On June 25 the couple will turn the reins over to Capt. Turnie and Evadne Wright from California and leave for their next assignment in Chandler. Every three years Salvation Army captains and their families across the country are sent to an unfamiliar town at the end of June.
"I am sad to see them go," Ludeke said. "They have done a lot to restore the vitality of the Salvation Army Corps in terms of regular service and from United Way's point of view, resource management and record keeping and all those things important for the United Way's participation."
The Koenigs have a 5-year-old daughter, Natalie, and a 7-month-old son, Peter. They had been dispatched from California to Washington to Arizona and when they arrived in Casa Grande they were astonished by the oppressive heat.
"We had never lived in this state and we were notified by our divisional commander we had six weeks to move. We learned in summer time it doesn't cool down. We were unpacking for 20 minutes in the garage and then had to go back inside to cool off." The family is running through the drill one more time and will be moving from their Salvation Army-paid home to another at the end of the month.
"There is a lot to adapt to in the first few months - how this Salvation Army functions in the community, being a new resident of the state, the different laws, the school calendar...," said Jason, who also ran a Salvation Army Corps in Southern California. "A month after we got here, the Wal-Mart opened, more housing, Johnny Carino's, IHOP, lots of new stuff has constantly been coming in."
In Chandler he said they face a lot of challenges - a bigger operation and transition to new programming. "It's good we are sent where our skills and talents will be used," he added.
Newcomer Capt. Terrance "Turnie" Wright has been in the Salvation Army Corps for most of his life as a church member. His wife, Evadne, has also been with the Salvation Army all her life but has a different perspective, said her husband, as she has been an officer's daughter who lived in overseas appointments such as Chile and New Zealand. The Wrights have two children ages 1 and 6.
Casa Grande will be Turnie's fourth appointment and Evadne's sixth. Some of the activities instituted by the Wrights in their current post include strengthening the number of participants in the youth programs by Turnie and Evadne's involvement in the women's ministry and expanding the Home League.
Turnie has traveled to Arizona to visit family in Scottsdale and has visited the Grand Canyon, while Evadne has never been here. "But the heat should not bother her as she was born in the Atacama Desert area of Chile," said Turnie, via e-mail.
He added, "We both are always looking forward to new challenges and new adventures. At the moment we don't have any expectations - we are in a wait and see mode."
Koenig brought ideas with him to Casa Grande from his previous post in Washington state such as "back to school" haircuts. He said he waited a year to see what other organizations in town had established for children before the start of each school year.
"There was a gap - a service others didn't think about. Kids don't want to go to school with a 'bowl on their head-haircut' from mom. It's about self-esteem. When they get a professional haircut and are going into a new school or middle school, it helps kids feel good about themselves," said Koenig, also a pastor with the corps.
The first year he sent out letters to every hair salon in the city and received two responses. Koenig then contacted the J.C. Penney salon, and its manager Mary Olson gathered eight stylists for the event. One other person volunteered her time also. Last year 13 stylists pitched in to help.
"It saves major dollars for the family," he explained. "Some of the families we serve have eight kids, that is $10 to $12 a haircut."
The first haircutting event brought in 66 kids, while last year 150 youngsters had their locks shorn. Among them were two 18-year-old young ladies who'd never had a haircut. "They had hair down to here," he said while gesturing to his calves. "It took 45 minutes to cut their hair." The Salvation Army also set up a school supply drive to accompany the efforts of St. Vincent de Paul Society and other non-profits in town.
Koenig said this was a turning point for the center. Administratively they had their hands full. The couple had to set up a system of accountability for the non-profit funds. It was unpopular, but the Koenigs phased out employees to save money and attempted to help the non-profit recover financially. "We came into this and had to make changes. We charged the advisory board with giving support to the corps officer. People said 'what are they doing? Are they in touch with the community?" he said. "We came here to do a lot of fixing."
After Sept. 11, 2001, donations went down dramatically for several years. Koenig had to determine the most effective way to raise money. "We had to get things in line financially and make us self-sufficient, strengthen the foundation. We could have been on the chopping block," he said. "It was not beneficial to the community and we needed to do something."
When the Koenigs landed in Arizona for the first time they encountered a meager $14,000 budget for programs. They leave with $63,000 in the coffers.
Among the most well-known activities is the annual kettle drive that allows volunteers and area stores to assist in raising funds for the Salvation Army Corps Christmas efforts as well as year-round services.
In previous years volunteers were stationed at local businesses only on weekends. Koenig changed this to Monday through Saturday, with volunteers and paid hires working eight-hour shifts. "As the founder of the Salvation Army and the Bible says, 'You have not because you ask not'," Koenig said.
"We started out with Wednesday to Saturday to try it out," he explained. "One day a gentleman at Fry's asked why we weren't out there on Mondays and Tuesdays. A lot of people make a commitment and they make sure to put money in the kettle. We needed to maximize the time spent."
The first year the corps raised $14,000. The next year Koenig set a goal of $25,000.
He hired bell ringers at minimum wage but some advisory board members were unhappy with the decision. "You have to spend money to make money," Koenig told the naysayers. He offered clients who utilized the social service aspects of the Salvation Army the opportunity to earn money. "If they come in for rent assistance, we can help them. But if we can get them a job supporting themselves and giving back to the community, while obtaining a job reference, it's a win-win-win situation."
Some employed bell-ringers obtained full-time positions at the stores where they were stationed. "Managers see them and know if they are friendly and on time and how many breaks they take. They are almost a greeter for the store," Koenig said.
Last year he instituted the Gold Bell competition. Organizations such as the county Sheriff's Office, Kiwanis, Rotary, RV parks and others compete for the award by trying for the most money in their designated kettles. When an organization or business wins, it is given a gold bell with the name and the year engraved on the plaque of the wooden stand.
"It's much better when you have a group to run the kettles. When you have different organizations and groups involved, they like the friendly competition," he said.
Most civic groups in the second year told Koenig his goal of $25,00 was too steep. Former Pinal County Sheriff Roger Vanderpool and his department won the first gold bell. Vanderpool, now director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety and a member of the Salvation Army advisory board, last year had DPS officers manning the kettles while off duty. Vanderpool also assisted in counting change and bills in the kettles, a time-consuming task also done by volunteers.
"We at the Sheriff's Office have helped the Casa Grande Salvation Army during the Christmas season manning their kettles in front of Wal-Mart," said current Sheriff Chris Vasquez. "In doing so we won their gold bell award two years in a row."
In 2004 the Salvation Army netted $28,000, surpassing the goal set by Koenig.
Dave Storie said Koenig visited RV parks to recruit volunteers. He offered a free two- to three-hour karaoke night for the group if they would come out and ring the bell at a kettle or count change.
This past holiday season Koenig said there were seven kettle locations occupied Monday through Saturday and even with a $5,000 payroll they brought in $48,000. Another way to raise money is by asking for specific donations for each program. "Can you sponsor one day at $200 for a 'wild and wacky Friday' trip?'" Koenig used as a pitch. This enables activities to take place without using regular funding. "It helps people see exactly where their money is going."
Besides Christmas, the Thanksgiving dinner is an enormous undertaking for the community. The Salvation Army along with Seeds of Hope, Teen Challenge's Home of Hope, St. Vincent de Paul and others put together the annual meal for those in need. "We work with the groups, coordinate the volunteers and help distribute food," said Angelina, who started the Salvation Army Junior Brass Band in Casa Grande.
Angelina, an accomplished musician who plays baritone horn, flute and other instruments, gathered kids from Casa Grande and Maricopa to start the band. The program grew from 10 to 15 this year. Rick Moore, a Central Arizona College professor, periodically assists with the group by having one-on-one sessions teaching students their chosen instruments.
The band performed at several events such as fundraising dinners and festivals held by the Salvation Army. Angelina also is an instructor at the Salvation Army music camp, where she teaches intensive classes on performing.
Koenig applied for a Beaumont Foundation of America grant to put a computer lab into the center. Usually, he said, the only people notified about the opportunity for computer hardware are those organizations that have already been given funds. Koenig had applied for the grant in Washington and decided Casa Grande needed equipment too.
The local Salvation Army received a $22,500 "Equip for Success" computer lab and learning center consisting of 10 laptops, one LCD video projector, a laser printer and two digital cameras. The center offers training to children and adults including basic computer skills, budgeting, typing, job skills, resume writing, homework help for youth and other related topics. They also transport the laptops to the county juvenile detention center once a week so kids there can benefit from computer training.
"Wild and Wacky Fridays" takes 20 or so kids to events or venues outside of Pinal County. "Some kids have never been out of Casa Grande or Pinal County," Koenig said. Trips to the Phoenix Science Center, rock climbing, bowling, Waterworld, roller skating and others are at no cost to participants.
Other community events and programs include "Breakfast with Santa," spring-break day-camps, youth drop-in and after-school homework sessions, Angel Tree, Adopt-a-Family, free eye exams as well as continuing the many social services generally offered by Salvation Army Corps.
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