Salvation Army Mobile Canteen

Photos by Darrin Phegley

Hope is On the Way

The Salvation Army, located at 1213 Washington Street, has been lending a helping hand to those in need for decades. In addition to the traditional means of assistance they offer, they now have a mobile canteen. Captain Benny Carringer cheerfully articulates the purpose of the mobile canteen, “Hope is on the way. It even says that on the back.” Captain Benny and his family moved to Henderson from West Virginia in 2019, but they are not new to the organization.  Both Benny and his wife, Crystal, are captains and have been serving at Salvation Army in various capacities since they were only 15 years old. “We were volunteers first, then employees. Then in 2010 we went to training. In 2012 we became ordained ministers.” The Salvation Army uses military rankings as titles for employees. “We are pastors and administrators for all the Salvation Army work that occurs in Henderson, Union, and Webster counties,” explained Carringer. 

Heading for Disaster

Although the mobile canteen has multiple uses, the primary purpose for it is to be used to assist during times of disaster and local emergencies. “It’s basically a mobile feeding unit that is equipped with a stove, griddle, fridge, water holder and propane, as well as a generator,” said Captain Benny. “Meals are free. We will keep it ready for when disaster calls. It will always be on standby. We have volunteers that also go with us. When the Salvation Army calls us out for a deployment, our unit goes out for a minimum of 2 weeks.” While the canteen is equipped enough for 2-week stints per disaster, it can stay longer if circumstances change. With the ability to serve 1500-3000 meals per day, the canteen provides critical services to render assistance to first responders and any residents in need during an emergency. “This is a good-sized unit, it is functional and can do a lot of work for us.”

Local Needs

In addition to being ready to head to a disaster anywhere in Salvation Army’s southern territory, which is as far reaching as Texas, the canteen will also be used locally throughout the community. “We are going to do some local outreach where we will go into the rural parts of our service area and give out hot dogs and waters. It gives us a chance to meet our neighbors in need and minister to them. We can also go into neighborhoods to disperse meals at Vacation Bible Schools,” Captain Carrington shares. “We will use it for community events and even for parades. These things give us avenues to show our community that the Salvation Army is still here and providing in many ways.”

Volunteer Opportunities

As with most non-profits, the Salvation Army can’t function at full capacity without the dedicated service of those willing to volunteer.  Captain Benny has been pleased with what he has observed since moving to Henderson regarding the community’s desire to help those in need. “The community sees the need and then they rally around you to help. Even with COVID-19 and how we’ve had to adapt the way we serve our meals and the way that we handle our services, the community stepped in and filled the gaps. We have been able to rely on our community since we’ve been here,” gushes Carringer. 

Now with the new mobile canteen service, more volunteers are needed as well as donations of supplies, to keep the canteen stocked and ready to go when duty calls. The Salvation Army welcomes any contributions of water bottles, coffee, hot chocolate, to-go cups, to-go containers, latex gloves, and face masks. Volunteers who can serve are always something Salvation Army needs more of. Anyone who would like to volunteer on the mobile canteen and be part of the team sent out during times of disaster simply needs to go through their emergency training.  

“Outside of disaster work, we have volunteer opportunities at our family store, help with prepping food bags for our social services, and food prep and serving meals in our soup kitchen,” Captain Benny adds. “Even families can volunteer as a group.”

Anyone wishing to donate, inquire further about the new mobile canteen or for details about volunteering can call the Salvation Army’s local office at 270-826-4472.