{"id":24939,"date":"2016-12-22T05:22:47","date_gmt":"2016-12-22T10:22:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=24939"},"modified":"2018-10-01T13:14:15","modified_gmt":"2018-10-01T17:14:15","slug":"gift-hope-meet-darren-wiseman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/gift-hope-meet-darren-wiseman\/","title":{"rendered":"The gift of hope: Meet Darren Wiseman"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every week, I will be profiling an extraordinary human being who lives in our community. If you know someone who is doing something interesting with their life, I want to hear about it. Send me an email at <\/strong><\/em>laura.maclean@doppleronline.ca<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

He\u2019s like a teddy bear. You\u2019re going to want to hug and squeeze him. And he\u2019s also a bit like Santa Claus: never one to judge, extremely kind and giving, a good listener and merry all year round. But Christmastime always brings out the best in him.<\/p>\n

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His name is Darren Wiseman and he is the main man behind the Salvation Army Huntsville Community Church and Family Services. His official title is corps officer (so you can address him as Major Darren Wiseman). He\u2019s the community ministries officer, the church pastor and he oversees the operation of the Salvation Army Thrift Store as well.<\/p>\n

He will tell you he\u2019s the guy you need to see for anything \u2013 a (generous) donation, the food bank, social services or the Thrift Store. He works with a small group of exceptional people (only four others!) so it\u2019s like a little family at the Salvation Army’s Mary Street building.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, you know, behind every great man is an even greater woman,\u201d Darren says with a gentle chuckle. \u201cWe\u2019re partners on this mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s talking about his wife, Suzann, who shares the same title, duties and responsibilities as him. Suzann is also a pastor and the two rotate leading the church\u2019s Sunday services throughout the year. Darren gushes about her. He couldn\u2019t do what he\u2019s doing without her. And he wouldn\u2019t want to either.<\/p>\n

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Darren and his wife Suzann. The two are involved in every aspect of the local Salvation Army and share the same title as corps officers. (Photo supplied by Darren Wiseman)<\/p><\/div>\n

They have been working for the Salvation Army for a total of 20 years, and relocated from St. John, New Brunswick to Huntsville back in 2012 after becoming appointed to opening positions at the church. They have no plans to leave any time soon. He originally hails from a small town in Newfoundland and this town reminds him of his homeland. It\u2019s \u201cjust the best\u201d and so are the people who live in it.<\/p>\n

We absolutely love it here. We couldn\u2019t have asked to go anywhere better. I\u2019ve never heard it so much as I have this Christmas: the people in Huntsville are the most amazing, giving, loving people you will ever meet and I don\u2019t care where you go.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Darren always has something on the go, but he\u2019s extra busy right now. Endless hours of planning and organizing goes into making Christmas miracles happen. Two weeks ago, a fundraiser was held at Family Place Restaurant and Pizza, followed by the annual food drive, then a radiothon and then the toy drive. The last week has been really crazy with all the Christmas hampers being prepared. As of Tuesday, he was still getting calls to pick up toy and food donations at stores around town. It\u2019s a huge but absolutely vital undertaking.<\/p>\n

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The last week has been extremely busy at the Salvation Army, but that doesn’t mean staff and volunteers don’t know how to have fun.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s exhilarating,\u201d he says of all the hubbub. \u201cYou leave here some nights at 11 p.m. and we\u2019re exhausted. But we always walk out of here with big smiles on our faces. Knowing you have helped alleviate the stress from a young family\u2019s life, that\u2019s amazing. It\u2019s about bringing joy to all these families. And we couldn\u2019t do it without the support from the people. They have given to us the ability to bring joy to less fortunate families. Their gift to us has helped us give gifts to other people. And our staff and volunteers always go above and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

And if that doesn\u2019t make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, this will: this year the Salvation Army helped over 300 local families in need. That means brand new toys for every girl and boy as well as Christmas hampers and a turkey for families. The hampers are bursting with all kinds of amazing things, which makes everything that much easier (not to mention special) for so many folks.<\/p>\n\n\t\t