The Perks saved dozens of at-risk teens from a life in the criminal justice system, and helped those hit by the June 1 tornado. Watch video
Maj. Thomas D. Perks and his wife, Maj. Linda Perks, co -commanders of the Greater Springfield Salvation Army citadel, stand in the chapel at the Salvation Army headquarters on Pearl Street at the start of the 2009 Toy for Joy campaign.SPRINGFIELD - Springfield’s loss is the gain of Massillon, Ohio.
Salvation Army commanders Thomas and Linda-Jo Perks, the husband-and-wife team of officers who have led nine years of Toy for Joy and winter coat drives, saved dozens of at-risk teens from a life in the criminal justice system, and helped those hit by the June 1 tornado, are leaving their posts in this city go to the Western Stark County Ohio area.
Thomas Perks made the announcement on Friday; the Perks, of Agawam, will be leaving their office at 170 Pearl St. on June 27 and picking up in the manufacturing city just below Akron on June 29. The locale is midway between where the couple’s two daughters live in Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
“We have learned so much from so many wonderful people in Springfield .¤.¤. we are looking forward to moving closer to family. But at the end of the day God calls us to love people and care for them whether in Springfield, Ohio or Anchorage, Alaska. That’s why we get up every morning,” said Perks.
Replacing them in Springfield will be Capts. John and Rhonda Ferreira, commanders at the Trenton, N.J., Salvation Army, also a husband and wife team. It is part of the Salvation Army tradition to marry within the ranks, if officers do marry, Perks said.
He said the Massillon has been hard hit by plant closings and growing numbers of jobless, so they plan to expand job readiness and training services there.
Over the Perks’ tenure here, they have grown the Toy for Joy holiday gift program for the poor to help over 16,000 children in Greater Springfield with the help of The Republican and partner Hasbro, Inc. They also have spearheaded winter coat drives, tutoring program and a “Bridging the Gap” initiative for first-time teen criminal offenders.
That program has grown from 12 to 40 children and has an 89 percent success rate of keeping kids out of trouble and in school after their first brushes with the law, according to Perks.
He has a staff of six full-timers and 300 volunteers.
The agency was particularly critical after last year’s natural disasters.
“During the post-tornado response we saw the whole community come together with a focused goal of responding to the needs of our neighbors who were hurting,” Perks said, adding that the Salvation Army and volunteers provided over 14,000 meals through roving mobile units and emergency assistance and emotional support to over 2,400 in the initial aftermath.
“I was personally enriched by the experience,” Perks said.