The Shadow
The Salvation Army dedicated its new Covington Center for Worship and Service Sunday.
The brief 3 p.m. ceremony celebrated the completion of the first phase of the $2.1 million project. The Salvation Army has been using the new facility on South Lexington Avenue since December.
The new facility, which is approximately 5,100 square feet, houses the Salvation Army’s social services offices and food pantry. The building also contains administrative offices, classrooms, a learning lab, a kitchen and a multi-purpose room.
Worship services are being conducted in the multi-purpose room until an attached chapel in constructed. In a surprise announcement Saturday night during a dedication dinner at Covington Baptist Church, Salvation Army officials from the National Capital and Virginia Division said money will be earmarked to construct the new chapel. The chapel is expected to cost $205,000 to $220,000. Construction will begin sometime this year.
The opening of the new Covington facility comes at a time when the Salvation Army is seeing a sharp increase in requests for services to the local community. Last year, the Salvation Army in Covington provided assistance to approximately 5,000 people.
“People are coming to the Salvation Army more and more,” said Maj. Algerome Newsome, divisional commander for the National Capital and Virginia Division. “Here, 1,000 new families were served by the Salvation Army last year.”
Newsome said the new Center for Worship and Service signifies that The Salvation Army is making a long-term commitment to Covington and its surrounding areas. The Salvation Army has been provided services in the Highlands for more than 80 years.
“We are saying to you that the Salvation Army is here and we are here to stay,” he said.
Construction of the building’s first phase was funded through pledges and donations. The Salvation Army’s capital campaign in Covington has raised $1.1 million toward the project. The local advisory board will continue to raise fund for the third and final phase of the project, which will involve construction of a multipurpose gymnasium.
“Just think about the people that have worked together on this project,” said Covington Mayor Stephanie Clark.
In addition to providing money to build the facility’s chapel, the Salvation Army is providing around $150,000 to erase operational debts that it had incurred in providing services in Covington for the past 15 years. The Covington unit will also receive $10,000 so operations in the new building will begin in the black.
“We are building the new chapel, the debt is gone and they are giving us money for operations. It’s a new beginning,” said Capt. Karl Dahlin, who serves as commander of Salvation Army operations in Covington, along with his wife, Capt. Janice Dahlin.
The money earmarked for Covington is coming from a large gift the Salvation Army received from a donor in Virginia.
The Salvation Army began raisings funds for the new Covington facility about five years ago. After numerous delays, ground was broken for the new facility in December 2008. The new building replaces an older and outdated facility on Highland Avenue that had been utilized for about 80 years.
“We are not done yet. We are continuing to press toward the goal,” Karl Dahlin said.
