Salvation Army Today

The Angel Tree Program

Every child deserves to experience the joy of Christmas morning. The Salvation Army Angel Tree program helps provide Christmas gifts for hundreds of thousands of children around the country each year. Once a child or senior adult has been registered and accepted as an “Angel”, their Christmas wish list is shared with donors in your community who purchase gifts of new clothing and toys. The gifts are distributed to the family to place under their family Christmas tree.
As the founder of the Angel Tree program, Colonel White once said, "The concept of connecting someone who has the means with someone who has the need puts them in a personal relationship. We truly believe and have said it has to be a God thing"
 
In many locations, the deadline to drop off your donations is December 2nd.
To learn more, visit SAANGELTREE.ORG

The Salvation Army Continues Support to Southeast Oklahoma

McCurtain County in Oklahoma is still cleaning up from tornadoes that touched down in multiple locations in southeast Oklahoma on Friday evening, November 4th.
Emergency management estimates about 200 structures were damaged in the storm. The Salvation Army of Arkansas-Oklahoma continues outreach with meals and emotional and spiritual care support while standing by to address the unmet needs of the community.
“There is a need for help for the affected families and the community is responding in a wonderful way with resources,” said Laurie Fried, Emergency Disaster Services Director for the Arkansas-Oklahoma Division. “The Salvation Army continues to coordinate with local government officials as well as voluntary agency partners to ensure quick and effective service to our hurting neighbors.”
 
To support The Salvation Army’s continued response to this disaster, visit helpsalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
 
For the latest information on Salvation Army disaster relief efforts, visit disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.

The Salvation Army and “The Chosen” TV Show

The Salvation Army and The Chosen have further cemented a growing partnership with the official ribbon-cutting and opening of new construction at Camp Hoblitzelle in Texas.
The Chosen, created by Dallas Jenkins and distributed by Angel Studios, is a seven-season tv show focused on the life of Jesus, earning a world record as the highest crowd-funded video project of all-time.
Still, as The Chosen navigated its second season, Jenkins and his team needed filming locations, and with the help of a viewer pointing the program’s leadership to The Salvation Army, a collaboration was born.
Major Barry Corbitt, general secretary of the Texas Division and a primary liaison with The Chosen, indicated at the ribbon-cutting ceremony that the “possibilities are endless” for the newly constructed locations, citing a film camp already held at Camp Hoblitzelle and extensive plans for future camp experiences.
 
To learn about Salvation Army camp opportunities near you, visit
https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/equip-families/
 

Volunteer with The Salvation Army

As the holidays approach, so many people find themselves with an extra need. From financial assistance to pay utilities to providing their kids with a Christmas gift, this is a great time of year for those in a position to help- to give back. 
 
One of the ways you can make a profound impact on someone’s life is to volunteer with The Salvation Army. From ringing bells for The Salvation Army kettles, to assistance with the Angel Tree program, there are so many opportunities to help us do the most good. 
 
Last year, The Salvation Army in the US provided holiday assistance to over 2.4 million people. And this can’t happen without our volunteers. 
 
If you’re interested in volunteering with The Salvation Army this holiday season, visit SALVATIONARMYUSA.ORG to find your nearest location and see what opportunities are available. 

The Salvation Army’s Detroit Bed & Bread Program

The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit recently received a $50,000 donation from Schostak Brothers & Company. The donation from the Michigan-based real estate company will help support the nonprofit’s Bed & Bread Program which supplies the metro Detroit area with food and shelter every day of the year.
 
The Salvation Army’s Bed & Bread trucks make 57 delivery stops throughout the
city every day. In addition to serving meals, Bed & Bread trucks supply Detroiters
with coats, blankets, gloves, and other personal items. And each year, the program provides shelter to more than 72,000 people.
 
Mark Schostak, Executive Chairman, said:
“We’re inspired by The Salvation Army’s unwavering dedication to serving our
community for more than 125 years. Their tireless efforts change and save lives. It
is a privilege to support them in their mission to provide meals and shelter through
their incredible Bed & Bread Program.”
 
For more information on The Salvation Army’s Bed & Bread Program, please visit
www.SAmetrodetroit.org.
 

Mental Health Awareness Episodes

As the holidays approach, many of us struggle with an additional level of anxiety, stress, and sadness. A recent study posted on psychiatry.org stated that Americans are five times more likely to say their level of stress increases during the holidays.
 
As we enter this time of celebration we want to take a moment and address those who are battling mental health crisis’s this time of year and say, you are not alone.
On two of The Salvation Army’s podcasts, we will be sharing an interview had with Christian psychotherapist and counselor, Kendall Louden. On Monday October 31st on the YouthDownSouth Podcast and on November 27th on Words of Life, Kendall shares insight on the importance of discussing mental health openly especially within the church.
 
Visit SALVATIONARMYRADIO.ORG to listen.
And if you need someone to talk to immediately, the national hotline is now open, simply dial 988 to speak with someone today.

The Salvation Army Activates Comprehensive Response in Wake of Hurricane Ian

Upon its arrival to the United States, Ian was a Category 4 hurricane, just short of a Category 5.
The Salvation Army meticulously planned its response, staging canteens and other equipment for immediate dispersal after the storm exited the affected areas.
But The Salvation Army couldn’t serve at maximum capacity without the generous assistance of its partners.
The Walmart Foundation committed $150,000 dedicated to Hurricane Ian relief in support of feeding and hydration efforts. Polaris offroad vehicles were to used to distribute food.
 
As well as Mercy Chefs, PepsiCo, Midwest Food Bank, UPS, FedEx and Delta Airlines which have all been crucial in The Salvation Army’s response.
 
Through October 24th, The Salvation Army served over 360,000 meals, drinks and snacks and provided emotional and spiritual care to over 60,000 people. To support The Salvation Army’s continued response, visit help.salvationarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

A Survivor’s Guide to Spiritual First Aid

When disaster strikes, The Salvation Army is there to serve the whole person - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Currently, Emotional and Spiritual Care Officers are on the ground in Florida, working alongside The Salvation Army's mobile feeding kitchens to provide hope and care to survivors of Hurricane Ian.
Through a partnership with the American Bible Society, these officers are equipped with the booklet “Beyond Disaster – A Survivor’s Guide for Spiritual First Aid", produced by the American Bible Society. This small, blue booklet encompasses the very heart of the service The Salvation Army provides. It’s a tangible extension of the emotional care and support that disaster survivors desperately need.
Since the partnership began in 2020 with the American Bible Society, The Salvation Army has handed out over 160,000 Beyond Disaster booklets.
 
To learn more about The Salvation Army’s continued response to Hurricane Ian, visit https://disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/
And, if you’re in a position to help, visit HELPSALVATIONARMY.ORG to offer your support.

The Salvation Army and American Red Cross Receive $40 Million in Grants

The Salvation Army and the American Red Cross have announced that Lilly Endowment Incorporated has awarded each organization $40 million to increase response capacity in light of the more frequent and devastating impacts of climate change affecting families across the country.
These grants are the largest gifts that either organization has received to help them prepare for future disasters.
 
The Salvation Army and the American Red Cross, two of the nation’s largest nonprofits, recognize that these historic grants will better position each organization to help people struggling to cope with record-breaking hurricanes, other extreme storms, and massive wildfires.
Both organizations are often among the first on the ground during a crisis, and together they serve millions of people in need every year.
 
Clay Robbins, chairman and CEO of Lilly Endowment said,
 
“These grants are intended to bolster the long-term capacity and effectiveness of these essential organizations and not to support the needs arising from a specific disaster,”
 
To learn more, visit https://disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/
 

International Day of the Girl

Ten years on from its inception at the United Nations, celebrations, campaigns, and meetings have taken place across the international Salvation Army to acknowledge the International Day of the Girl and recognize the position of girls and young women in our world and in the global Church.
 
From community-led education events in Zambia to (church) meetings planned and led entirely by girls in the USA, Salvationists have added their voices to the cause and honored the lives of girls and young women.
 
As has become a landmark celebration in recent years, the International Social Justice Commission (ISJC) hosted a digital event filled with creative performances, songs and dances from girls around the world, live-streamed to YouTube and Facebook.
 
Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, World President of Women’s Ministries, said
“The Salvation Army wants to see justice and equity,” affirming the mission of Women’s Ministries to see the value of women and girls raised throughout Salvation Army communities.
 
To learn more and find a Salvation Army church near you, visit https://salvationarmy.org/