Lynchburg Couple’s Inspiring Story Motivates Giving Back to the Community

Ten years ago, two people met and began a journey that would exemplify how community service can make a significant impact. Joe and Patsie, who first crossed paths in Lynchburg, started a committed relationship based on their shared passion for installing satellite internet systems across the country. Joe had moved from Pennsylvania to Lynchburg, where Patsie had already been living. After working together for some time, they moved to Florida just as the pandemic began. The ensuing challenges prompted them to return to Lynchburg, where they dedicated themselves to serving at the local Salvation Army shelter alongside Majors Caleb and Rebecca Prieto and their staff.

 While serving, the couple felt led by their faith in God to continue their journey together through marriage. They approached Caleb Pietro to officiate their wedding. In April of 2023, Joe and Patsie were happily married in the church on the Salvation Army campus, which also hosts weekly services and Bible studies for both men and women. They described the day as one of the “most joyful of our lives,” with many of the volunteers from the Salvation Army and members of the local church in attendance. Patsie borrowed a wedding dress from Church Street Bridal, and she has since passed it on for others to use, calling it “a gift that keeps on giving.” To their knowledge, they are the only couple married by Caleb Prieto at the Salvation Army.

 After getting married, Joe and Patsie decided to continue serving in the Salvation Army and moved to a home just down the street. While working, each overcame a series of challenges and disabilities, finding fulfillment in making a difference through community service. As they continued helping in the food kitchen and making deliveries across Lynchburg, the couple the couple became increasingly aware of how many people in Lynchburg needed aid. They felt empowered knowing they were part of the solution. “The biggest reason I have for serving is that it fills your heart with compassion and makes you feel good,” Patsie said.

 Additionally, Joe remarked that, “It really is rewarding seeing just how many people need help in this city” and that “while there are many places that are helping, the Salvation Army has been around for 125 years, it is the only place that has been a part of the community for this long and we want to be a part of that”. Patsie added that despite having physical conditions such as arthritis, serving with her husband at the Salvation Army has been an incredible joy. She emphasized that the Salvation Army has gone out of its way to make accommodation for the couple, allowing them to serve while receiving support for their individual health needs. “It is not easy to get back on your feet, but it can be done,” she said. “If only there were more folks who could understand that. 100% of food donations go out to the community, and if we could get more individual donations, which could be an incredible help.”

 Looking to the future, both Joe and Patsie are eager to continue working in the Salvation Army kitchen and picking up food donations. They shared how the Salvation Army is funded entirely by donations, and that each donation can go to as many as 125 people, meaning even a small contribution can have a substantial impact. For example, donations of bottled water help replenish the cooling station used by the Salvation Army, which has been running low during the summer months. This makes it easy for members of the Lynchburg community to make convenient, individual donations that will not only support the mission of the Salvation Army but also allow them to continue giving back to Greater Lynchburg.

 The couple considers it a joy to have the opportunity to make an incredible difference in the community by serving at the Salvation Army, seeing it as a gift from God just to be able to help. In addition, lending a helping hand has helped Joe and Patsie overcome physical challenges and disabilities, providing joy amid adversity. As we continue to face challenges here in the Lynchburg community, the heartfelt story of Joe and Patsie reminds us that we can lighten each other’s burdens just by looking to the needs of our neighbors.

 For more information on and to give to the Lynchburg Salvation Army, click HERE.