Lieutenants David and Brittney Donegan of The Salvation Army in Hopkinsville are preparing to leave the community after receiving new assignments to Anderson, South Carolina, ending a two-year tenure marked by expanded outreach and ongoing plans to address homelessness.
“So in the Salvation Army every so often, officers every June get their marching orders … my wife and I, we’ve been here for two years and we received our marching orders two weeks ago that we’ll be moving to Anderson, South Carolina,” Lt. David Donegan said.
The couple arrived in Hopkinsville in June 2024 after serving three years in Paducah, taking leadership of Salvation Army operations across Christian, Todd and Trigg counties.
During their time in Hopkinsville, the Donegans oversaw several initiatives aimed at addressing poverty, food insecurity and housing instability.
In one major effort, the organization distributed more than $190,000 in rental assistance over a two-month period, preventing eviction for 58 families amid rising housing costs. The program focused on prevention, including paying back rent, covering future rent and working directly with landlords to stabilize families.
The Salvation Army also responded to increasing food insecurity by launching a community-wide campaign to provide meals and groceries as demand surged to as much as five times normal levels.
In addition, the organization expanded shelter services under the Donegans’ leadership. In late 2025, a former thrift store was converted into a dedicated emergency weather shelter, replacing makeshift overnight accommodations and providing space for roughly 30 individuals during extreme cold.
Looking toward long-term solutions, Donegan also introduced plans for a proposed Life Navigation Center — a facility designed to consolidate services, offer 24/7 shelter access and provide counseling, classrooms and family support resources under one roof. The broader vision includes replacing aging facilities and improving access to housing and social services in the community.
Efforts to expand or modernize shelter space have continued, including presentations to local officials outlining multi-million-dollar proposals to better serve individuals experiencing homelessness.
Despite the leadership transition, Donegan said those initiatives will continue under incoming leadership.
“Actually a senior officer is coming, a Major Jason R. Swain … many years of building shelters … the programs don’t stop, they just keep moving forward … it’ll just pick up where we left off,” he said.
Major Jason R. Swain, who has served in multiple Salvation Army appointments, brings extensive experience in shelter operations and community programming. He most recently served in Ashland, Kentucky, where he helped reopen a Salvation Army shelter, and is familiar with working in communities across the Commonwealth. His background is expected to support Hopkinsville’s ongoing efforts to expand shelter services and develop long-term housing solutions.
While expressing optimism about their next assignment, Donegan said leaving Hopkinsville will be difficult.
“I grew up in big cities. I like the slower pace … the hometown feel,” he said. “It’ll be a different change of pace for us.”
The Donegans will relocate with their children as they begin their new roles in Anderson, where they will continue their ministry with the Salvation Army.
