On the night that Renton said goodbye to Salvation Army Captains Terry and Rutendo Masango, the community raised nearly $60,000 to help support the Salvation Army Renton Rotary Food Bank the Masangos shepherded for five years.

It was the fifth Need Knows No Season fundraiser for the Masangos, who arrived in Renton in 2006 just a few months after the Salvation Army and Renton Rotarians opened the food bank. Today, the food bank serves about 1,500 families a month.

The dinner at the Renton Senior Center was attended by 162; donations totaled $59,996.

The Masangos are headed for the San Diego area, where they have been posted as the Salvation Army captains in El Cajon.

Terry Masango acknowledged at the fundraiser last week that the food bank would not have been able to serve the growing demand for food in Renton without the support of the community.

Masango presented a powerpoint presentation about his dreams for the food bank, many of which involve expanding the Salvation Army outreach to those who need food, shelter and clothing.

Rev. Kirby Unti of the St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church led the goodbye to the Masangos.

“Do we love the Masangos?” he yelled.

The response was a standing ovation.

Unti said Terry Masango “loves generosity,” encouraging the crowd to give of themselves.

“That is what you have taught us,” Unti said to the Masangos.

And he pointed out there’s a word missing from the Masangos’ vocabulary: No.

“I have never heard these two great leaders say no,” Unti said.

Also honored last week were Norm Abrahamson for his volunteer work and Lynn Bartlett as the employee of the year for the Renton Corps for her work running the Renton Community Supper.

The Salvation Army is posting Chris and Lisa Aird as the new captains in Renton. Their most recent assignment was in Roseville, Calif., northeast of Sacramento.