The old location on North Canal Street sits empty and forlorn, a for-sale sign prominently positioned in front of a once-vibrant building where Salvation Army workers for years tended to both spiritual and material needs of their clients.

In 2003, the agency changed its status within the venerable Salvation Army network and moved to a new location. For some, the end of Salvation Army work in Natchez seemed close at hand.

That was not the end, said longtime local Salvation Army board member Albert Metcalfe. But the changes did affect the community’s perspective of the agency’s work.

One of the most far-reaching cuts came in the closing of the Salvation Army Auxiliary, made up of more than 20 Natchez women who organized numerous programs to raise awareness of and funds for the Army.

“The ladies were super supportive and super involved,” said Metcalfe, who rued the way in which the auxiliary was discharged of its functions.

“If only they had said, ‘we’re going to find a different way for you to be involved.’”

Alma Timmons, a member of the former auxiliary, said the dismissal of the women who had dedicated time and talent to the local SA projects caused hard feelings.

“We were all shocked and upset,” she said. “We were the ones who brought in the money.”

They were the ones who organized the Teddy Bear Tea, the Christmas Angel Tree, the Easter egg hunt and many other activities.

“We sent children to Salvation Army camp with little ditty bags,” Timmons said.

When the agency moved from Canal Street to a shopping center south of town, other changes included closing the chapel and worship services and ending the youth programs.

Janet Trahern, now the director of the agency in the location at 175 U.S. 61 South, emphasized that the local service continues to give valuable assistance to large numbers of people.

“We were a corps with all the services and programs that go with it,” she said.

Without the chapel services and the youth program, the agency still provides all the other assistance, including the food pantry and clothing store.

“We assist fire and storm victims. And we give assistance with utilities,” she said.

A big blow to Salvation Army came when the Natchez agency, like the Natchez chapter of the American Red Cross, found its United Way funds drastically cut.

“We now get $5,000 for two years,” Trahern said. That means $2,500 per year.

“That’s down from $22,000 we were getting for one year from United Way,” she said.

Like the Red Cross, the Salvation Army received word that the audit they submitted was not sufficient, she said.

Metcalfe said the cuts to two well-known agencies are unfortunate. “That’s two old soldiers put out to pasture,” he said. “We need to rekindle community awareness that Salvation Army is still here and needs their support.”

How can the community support Salvation Army work? Metcalfe said the agency needs volunteers, for one thing. Losing the auxiliary was a huge setback, he said.

And the agency is happy to receive donations.

“The needs still exist. We can use volunteer and financial support,” Metcalfe said.

The agency board decided to move to the location south of town in order to have more parking and more security.

Nonetheless, there is talk of moving back to the Canal Street building.

“From a practical standpoint, Janet thinks we can do just as well at the old building,” Metcalfe said.

There is another reason to go back to the old location, said board member Janet Aubic.

“The community doesn’t know we’re here.”