The Niles Salvation Army welcomed two new employees this week, Lt. Kendra and Lt. Joseph Hixenbaugh.

The recently married duo will replace Majors Bill and Tracey Walters, who served the Niles Salvation Army for 13 years. The Walters made the decision to leave the organization to pursue other interests.

The Hixenbaughs started their positions on June 28 and will help to oversee the service organization’s operations, including pastoral and administrative services, as well as the multitude of resources offered to the community in the form of the food pantry, backpack program and other aid programs.

Troubleshooting is also part of the job description.

“Whatever pops up, that is us,” Kendra said.

Neither Kendra or Joseph are strangers to how the service organization seeks to help those in need. Both grew up helping with parents who also served as officers in the Salvation Army.

Kendra can recall helping to surprise a family with presents for Christmas when she was around 10 years old, while Joseph remembers helping to sort and count food around the holidays.

Growing up with this foundation, the couple said they gained a knack for learning how to provide for those in need.

“We love to be with people and help others,” Joseph said.

Seeing the good that could be done through their service was an inspiration to both, so it is no surprise that when Kendra and Joseph need advice they will call their parents for input.

“We call our parents all the time and say, ‘how did you deal with this in your community?’” Kendra said.

Joseph grew up in Nebraska and Kendra grew up in Illinois.

Both earned a certificate from the College for Officer Training in Chicago. The college’s two-year program aims teaches theology and business practices.

Additionally, Joseph has an associate of arts degree and Kendra earned an associate degree in human services. The couple will continue their service education through the Illinois-based Olivet Nazarene University for five years, while working at the Niles post.

Per Salvation Army protocol, the couple was assigned to the Niles post after the Walters left.

“We love the mission of the army and are more than happy to serve in full-time ministry here [in Niles],” Kendra said.

The Hixenbaughs said in the next couple of weeks they will seek to better get to know the Niles community’s needs.

“We want to find our niche in what is needed here,” Kendra said.

The couple said they hope to revive the organization’s youth programs by increasing participation and giving children the chance to earn more skills through the classes.

Similar to Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts, the Salvation Army’s youth program gives those who participate the chance to earn badges in areas like cooking or crafts.

As an organization grounded in the Evangelical Christian faith, the couple also said a goal is to bring more people to the church.

Already with an eye to the Christmas season, the Hixenbaughs said they are planning ways to garner more community support and also make pick up of Christmas gifts as accessible and comfortable to families as possible.

The new lieutenants posting also gave them a chance to be together, after having to date long distance. The couple said they are eager to work as a team.

“When we found out [we were going to be in Niles] we were ready to hit the ground running,” Joseph said. “Just being in the area and seeing what we can do to better not only the Salvation Army, but the city of Niles as well.”