Salvation Army welcomes new leaders

Although they have fallen on hard times, the people of Kinston and Lenoir County have welcomed Majs. Robin and Pamela Starr, the local Salvation Army's new administrators, or corps officers.

"Even with the pressures of the economy, people seem very friendly and open," Pamela Starr said.

The Starrs took over from the Salvation Army's long-serving corps officers, Capts. Michael and Susan Rodgers, last week after the Rodgers were transferred to Mt. Airy.

Pam Starr has spent the past week getting acclimated to the community; Robin Starr started working Monday after spending last week helping at a Salvation Army summer camp in Denton, where their 6-year-old son is staying.

"It's the kind of community you want to step into," he said of Kinston.

Serving in economically-troubled communities is nothing new to the Starrs, who have been in the Salvation Army since the mid-1980s. They transferred to Kinston from Salisbury, which has also experienced recent layoffs.

Starr said he spent his first days in the office going through financial reports and bills, looking for areas where expenses could be trimmed and reviewing staff job evaluations and job descriptions - the staff has been cut by more than 50 percent in the last five years as Kinston's economy soured and the pool of contributors shrank.

"We work hard and we really do watch our spending," Robin Starr said.

Some funds are forthcoming, though. The Lenoir County Community Foundation recently gave the Salvation Army a $1,000 grant for its summer programs.

Rick Holder, chairman of the Salvation Army's advisory board, said the board plans to kick off a major fundraising campaign this summer.

"I think we're going to be able to raise some money to get some positive things going," Holder said.

For their part, the Starrs said they plan to work with their advisory board, Women's Auxiliary, contributors such as the United Way and others to help the Salvation Army accomplish its mission.

"You know what they say, ‘Two people can accomplish 10 times as much as one,' " Robin Starr said.

David Anderson can be reached at (252) 559-1077 or danderson@freedomenc.com.

Fast facts:
Maj. Robin Starr:
In Salvation Army since 1986
Officer for 17 years

Maj. Pam Starr:
In Salvation Army since 1984
Officer for 16 years

Previous postings:
Salisbury
Charlotte
Baltimore, Md.
Kentucky
Tennessee

Married for 15 1/2 years
Three children:
Josh, age 6
Jennie, age 9
Jackie, age 14

Kinston's Salvation Army office is located at 2110 N. Queen St. and serves residents of Lenoir, Greene and Duplin counties. For more information, call (252) 523-5175.