The Longview Salvation Army has a new captain who has returned to his native Texas.
Tamara Robb, who started in Longview last week, left Meridian, Mississippi, where she led that city’s Salvation Army for the previous three years.
The leaders of the group generally change location every three to four years, according to information from the organization. Former Longview captains Nick and Michelle Hutchinson recently transferred to Houston.
A Texas native from the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Robb said she was thrilled to be back home.
“I’ve been away for nine years, so I’m so glad to be back in Texas,” Robb said. “I prayed and prayed to come back.”
Robb began volunteering with the organization in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina, she said. She dedicated nine years to the nonprofit before taking a two-year seminary course, known as College for Officer Training. In 2016, Robb was ordained an officer in the Salvation Army and has represented the nonprofit everywhere from Mobile, Alabama to Jackson, Mississippi.
Captains are responsible for all social programs and services provided by the organization, including lodging, pantry, financial aid, and weekly church services and activities.
Robb has two children, Brittany and Cameron, and four grandchildren “whom she spends time with whenever she gets the chance.” When she’s not spending her time with the organization or her grandchildren, Robb enjoys attending theater performances, doing crafts, hiking, camping and exploring new places.
Since arriving, Robb said she signed up for Leadership Longview through the Longview Chamber of Commerce and was looking forward to learning more about the community and its history.
“It’s about twice the size of the town I’m from,” Robb said with a laugh.
“I look forward to meeting different people in the community and learning about Longview and I’m excited to be part of the community and to be able to help out,” she said.
Robb encouraged everyone who was able to attend the weekly 11 a.m. Sunday worship service at the Salvation Army’s Longview location at 504 E. Cotton St.
