Life as a Salvation Army Officer means moving. Over the past 24 years, Major John Riley and I have served in eight communities, with Carlisle being the most recent.  We arrived in June, 2014 and have been happy to be here over three years. Carlisle is where our daughter Marissa, now a freshman at HACC, completed three years of High School and was able to enjoy Friday night football games, high school musicals, the prom, and all the trappings of small town life.

As for me, I have enjoyed living in a quiet setting where neighbors know each other by name, and carry on conversations about their children, their pets, and their gardens.  My home has been a lovely retreat from the hectic pace I keep at my job at The Salvation Army. Over these years I’ve discovered the generous spirit of “Carlislians” and their commitment to this community.  I’ve observed a genuine concern for others that is a refreshing change from other places I’ve lived.

When my husband and I arrived in Carlisle, we took over the administration of the local Salvation Army unit, called a “corps.” One year later, we were proud to organize the 100th year celebration of service to Carlisle and surrounding communities.  In our roles, we give oversight to a staff of 18 people who work in our Senior Center, Housing Programs, Meal Program, Social Services Department, and Thrift Store. Additionally, we are the pastors of The Salvation Army congregation, a Christian church that enjoys all the usual church activities such as Sunday School, Sunday Morning Worship, Bible Studies, Women and Men’s groups, Kids’ groups, etc.  In these roles, we have the opportunity to engage in the community with other groups and agencies. We actively support the United Way, we attend community meetings addressing issues such as homelessness and hunger, and we collaborate with other social services agencies.

When I first arrived in Carlisle, among the first things that caught my eye was the historic district, particularly the shops on Hanover and Pomfret Streets.  I was amazed at the foot traffic and shocked to see such a vibrant downtown. The area is very well-maintained. I loved seeing the architectural detail of the homes and businesses and I noticed all the beautiful window boxes that line the streets.  It was clear to me that this was a town that was concerned about historic preservation, and a town that took pride in it’s heritage.

Before long, however, I learned that Carlisle is more than a picturesque town with a good blend of traditional and trendy.  I soon discovered the wide array of services available to community members in need. I found out about the growth of industry in the area, and I was excited to see the development along Spring Avenue while driving back and forth to work each day.  More recently I’ve seen entities like the Army War College and Dickinson College making investments in the community that has adopted them. Carlisle has a great resource in these two institutions. While I don’t have control over how long I am appointed at a given location, I am very glad to be in Carlisle and I would be happy to have a lengthy stay here.

As much as I love Carlisle, I can’t say it is an Utopian community.  It has it’s fair share of problems and faces many of the issues as other towns and cities around the country.  I certainly can’t speak to all facets of life in Carlisle, but I can mention a few things about the challenges faced by the individuals and families we serve at The Salvation Army.  

There is a shortage of affordable housing for low income households.  While properties are generally well-maintained, landlords have to secure a decent Return on Investment.  This is to be expected, however the wages earned by low income families makes it difficult for them to be able to afford the nicer dwellings.  There certainly are jobs in Carlisle, but for those folks without reliable transportation or affordable child care, it may be difficult to obtain and or keep the better paying jobs available to unskilled laborers.  Others may have minimum wage jobs but their earnings are such that some things must be sacrificed. In order to pay rent, they may have to skip a utility payment on a given month, or request emergency food from an agency or church now and then.  They may have to get vouchers for winter clothing or back to school supplies. Worse yet, they may find themselves unable to keep up the household budget and eventually end up homeless.

One thing I have not seen much of in Carlisle is apathy.  I see a great deal of concern among community members about the struggles that many of our residents face.  There are multiple community agencies and coalitions that work to try to address some of the problems faced. A lot of good work gets done in this town.  There are also charitable foundations and businesses in the county that give generously to help make a difference. Private individuals are not hesitant to give.  Despite this, I think one of the things that needs to happen is greater awareness.

While I’ve mentioned how generous and empathetic people in Carlisle are, they may not all be thoroughly aware of some of what their neighbors face.  I’ve found that a person can mail in a donation check from the comfort of their cozy home, but when he or she is actually invited to come out and see where those dollars are going, that person is more apt to increase giving and also to actively engage in doing something to make things better.  

I’ve also recently been sold on the idea of “systems change.”  While we offer many, many services to people all across the lifespan and with varied needs, perhaps now is a good time to look at how these services have been delivered, and how we might better bridge the gap to do the most we can for those who are the most in need.  And I’m excited to see some momentum in that direction by more than one group.

It’s funny to think about my hopes for the future of Carlisle because my first thought is, that I might be able to stick around a good long time!  Joking aside, I believe with the movement toward systems change, access to the intellectual resources of our institutions, engaged local government leaders, the hard work of agencies, churches, and other networks, Carlisle can grow to be a “happily ever after” place not only for those who have, but also for those who have less.  

As for me, I’m always mentally prepared for a change of appointment, but Carlisle is a place I hope to come back to again. – Major Alma Riley, Corps Officer at Salvation Army (Greater Carlisle Area)