Janelle Cleaveland of Newton Salvation Army says community was giving, gracious and welcoming during her stay

Captain Janelle Cleaveland recognized just how much the community loved its Salvation Army almost immediately. When she arrived to Newton in 2017, she had no idea what to expect. From the moment her arrival was announced in the paper or through word of mouth, she would be greeted by complete strangers.

Over time those strangers who waved or shook hands with her at the grocery store became friends, partners and supporters. They, too, got to know her and the organization dedicated to helping Jasper County citizens. On June 26 Cleaveland bid farewell to those same folks who welcomed her five years ago.

Salvation Army is moving Cleaveland to another facility Madison, Ind., where she will be replacing a family of five. Filling in for Cleaveland in the Newton building are Captains Timothy and Peggy North, who will be welcomed officially on July 3. Cleaveland said she does not know what God has in store for her.

“But we shall see when I get there,” she said with a laugh. “I loved being in Newton. The people are great, the community’s great. And they’re very supportive of the Salvation Army. Made some great connections and friendships. The staff here at the Salvation Army are great. We have a great team.”

Prior to her tenure in Newton and Jasper County, Cleaveland was the captain of two Salvation Army facilities in Des Moines for a combined six years. She also spent a year at Mason City. Out of those three communities, Newton is easily the smallest. Her new town is a few thousand people smaller than Newton.

Cleaveland’s time in Jasper County has been both challenging and rewarding. In addition to securing a more than $197,000 donation and meeting a number of Red Kettle Campaign goals, the Salvation Army withstood 100 mph winds and the ensuing effects of a derecho and the many hardships of the pandemic.

Both of those disasters showed Cleaveland how much the community really cared about the Salvation Army and their fellow citizens. Even when times were tough, people were giving. The support of the community was much needed during those dire times, Cleaveland said.

Even when some staff were a bit hesitant or worried the Salvation Army would not meet its fundraising goals, Cleaveland believed in the community to step up.

“God will provide. The community will provide. And every year they did,” she said. “We never not met our goal since I been here, and that’s not true of all Salvation Armies. That is a testament to the community and how they support us and how they stepped up. So that was always great.”

Cleaveland will always remember the strong and creative collaborations between the Salvation Army and other agencies. In 2019, Newton Hy-Vee and Salvation Army teamed up to make a wooden coin program, a new way for grocery store customers to donate during the Red Kettle Campaign.

Instead of donating spare change or a few bucks to the red kettles, customers could electronically donate as much money as they want at the checkout line and signify their donation with a wooden nickel. Upon their exit from the store, they drop their wooden coin in the kettle.

Food drives were always memorable to Cleaveland, as were the annual quilt auctions. In fact, the quilt auction spurred her to create her first — and probably her last — quilt. It may not have inspired her to pick it up as a hobby, but it was a fun experience nonetheless. And, hey, it happened in Newton.

Oh and she will definitely remember all those times she was asked to pose for a picture for donations. Inevitably, those images would end up in the paper. Cleaveland said her staff joked about making a cardboard cutout of her to more easily meet the demand of donation photo ops.

If anything the demand for her to be in photos showed just how often local businesses, agencies or citizens donated to their Salvation Army.

It should come as no surprise that Newton takes pride in its Salvation Army. Which is why, as Cleaveland packs her bags for Indiana, she can rest easy knowing the Salvation Army is in a good place. Board members are supportive, people still want to give and the community has faith in its Salvation Army.

“People love this community, and I’ve grown to love this community,” Cleaveland said. “I will miss this community and the support. I’ll miss walking in to anywhere and have people saying hi or stopping and talking to me. I’ll miss the friendships I’ve made and the people I’ve gotten to know.”

She got to know Newton, and Newton got to know her.

“Even though I wasn’t from here, they still loved me like I was one of their own,” she said. “I’m not a Newtonite or from Jasper County, but they still loved me and welcomed me and treated me like family.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext 6560 or at cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com