Salvation Army Mesquite gets new director

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The Director’s chair at the Salvation Army of Mesquite was not left vacant for long. Just 25 days after former Director Bill Ennis retired from the position on March 1, a new Director Anthony Rivera filled the seat last week on March 25.

Rivera has worked for the Salvation Army for the past twelve years in the state of Connecticut as a Salvation Army officer. He and his family have recently moved to St George, Utah to be closer to his wife’s aging parents. They have four children: 3 teenagers and a three-year-old.

“I am an ordained evangelical minister, but my role here is Director of the Mesquite Salvation Army Service Center, with no church attachments,” Rivera said. “I am happy to be here, I am on board with keeping the programs that my predecessor began and expanding programs that have need. I am pretty sure we will outgrow this building in serving the needs of the community.”

Rivera grew up in New Jersey. At age 20, he was looking for a church to attend and his brother introduced him to the church at the Salvation Amy.
“I was surprised!” Rivera said. “I thought the Salvation Army was just a thrift store. I went and got involved in their program and liked being able to help people.”

Rivera said that local Salvation Army Interim Director Starr Flores has already acquainted him with the local volunteers and programs. “She has been a great help,” he said.

Rivera said that he had already heard, from both Flores and Ennis, just how generous the Virgin Valley community has been to the Salvation Army. “I am amazed!” he said. “This is the first community I have come to serve that has been labeled as generous and helpful. I hope we continue to work together to meet the needs of the community. I will give this position and this community 100 percent. We are here to help.”