Salvation Army Talks Renovations at Soupfest

Friends of the New Brunswick Salvation Army Corps gathered at the 131-year- old post on Tuesday night to meet the new captains there and talk about pending renovations.

Different types of soup were provided for the fundraiser by Tula Restaurant and Lounge, Evelyn's, Harvest Moon, Elijah's Promise, Harvest Moon, Costa Chica and Maoz. Guests sipped from bowls while touring the post and learning about its different programs.

Captains Leo and Persi Sanclemente arrived in New Brunswick three months ago after previously being stationed in Rhode Island for four years.

They are heading the New Brunswick Salvation Army at a time of transition, when the post is looking to renovate the building into a two-story base of operation that will better accommodate their after-school program and social services.

Persi Sanclemente said the congregation that uses the post as a church has outgrown the chapel, causing the dining room there to be used as a spot for worship.

As a result, they are no longer to provide daily on-site hot meals, but were able to send out 2,335 bags of groceries to area families in the last year.

The post's after-school program, which currently hosts 35 kids, due to space and staff limitations, would be moved to the second floor of the new building. At present, it meets in the Salvation Army's basement. That space would be used for adult classes and programs, according to the Sanclementes.