Voices of Hope: Clarksville Salvation Army hosts silent auction fundraiser

Marissa England, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle
·2 min read
Entrance to the Salvation Army's Champions of Hope Luncheon at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center in Clarksville, Tenn. on Sep. 15, 2022.
Entrance to the Salvation Army's Champions of Hope Luncheon at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center in Clarksville, Tenn. on Sep. 15, 2022.

Returning after the pandemic, the Clarksville Salvation Army hosted its Champions of Hope Luncheon and Silent Auction on Sept.15 at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center.

"We want to be able to say thank you to our community, for the support they've shown us, to let them know what we've been up to the last year and a half," corps officer Lt. Andrew Lewis said.

The hour and a half event spotlighted members of the community and partners for making much of what they do possible.

"It takes a village to provide what we do," Lewis stated in an interview.

Last year, the Clarksville corps provided over 4,000 nights of housing, 7,000 meals, and 3,500 articles of clothing to the community.

Lewis noted the state-approved grant that allowed the corps to start the LIFNav program in Clarksville — a support network for homelessness and rehousing.

Salvation Army corps officer Lt. Andrew Lewis introduces Berlisha Jarrett, a graduate of the Salvation Army's LIFNav program during the Champions of Hope luncheon at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center in Clarksville, Tenn. on Sep. 15, 2022.
Salvation Army corps officer Lt. Andrew Lewis introduces Berlisha Jarrett, a graduate of the Salvation Army's LIFNav program during the Champions of Hope luncheon at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center in Clarksville, Tenn. on Sep. 15, 2022.

Berlisha Jarrett, a LIFNav graduate, shared how the program impacted her and her children. She said they wouldn't have been able to find a roof over their head and find employment without the assistance from the Salvation Army.

Retired Salvation Army officer Lt. Col. Eddie Hobgood expressed stories of hope for people who thought there was none.

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Lewis then provided plans for the upcoming year and introduced the first official advisory board member, Karen Bell.

"[I] look forward to getting more advisory board members," he said. "Especially those with specialty awareness such as people finance or banking backgrounds."

All proceeds from the event and silent auction go toward the Clarksville community and corps services, such as providing commercial washer and dryers to assist in the housing efforts.

"They've been limping along with a residential washer and dryer for all [30 plus] residents, so I think those are urgent needs [for our work]," Bell stated.

"I just want to thank the community for the insurmountable support that's been given," Lewis expressed.

"It's going to be crucial in the day, months, and years as we provide to all our community neighbors around us. We got a long road ahead of us, so continued support and prayer would be very, very helpful"

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Clarksville Salvation Army hosts Champions of Hope Luncheon and auction