People Magazine is celebrating 35 years and they’re giving you a chance to give away some gifts.

Once you register and tell People what your favorite charity is, 35 people will be chosen at random to win $1000 for that charity.   That’s a possibility of $35,000!

Do some good for the Army: learn more and register today and help The Salvation Army!

It’s easy to support an organization that you know to be doing good in the community.  It’s not difficult to send a check or say a prayer to support good deeds.

Ultimately the greatest reward is seeing the faces of those impacted by your time, talent and donations.

The Salvation Army National Headquarters is highlighting a series of ads done by The Richards Group that introduces you, the supporters of the Army, with the people you’ve helped.

The first of the five-ad series is below and discusses the Delaware job-finding program.

All of the ads, and additional videos, can be found on the Army’s YouTube channel.

Lisa Thompson is the National Liaison for the Abolition of Sexual Trafficking at National Headquarters.

Recently Lisa and her work with the Army to end sex trafficking was featured in “Christian Single” magazine.

Download the entire article and learn more about how you can help abolish sexual trafficking.

You can read more about The Salvation Army’s position on sexual trafficking on the national website and find out about events to spread awareness and support of victims on the Combating Human Trafficking webpage.

Mike Rodgers, captain of Salvation Army’s Hickory Corps in Mount Airy, North Carolina, had watched the devastation with everyone else.

Unseasonal rains poured on Georgia and Tennessee causing millions of dollars worth of damage, disrupting routines and claiming lives.

The Salvation Army was quick to respond: on the ground within hours of the first floods and still supplying basic needs to those affected.

Then there was the outpouring of support, donations and resources from across the country.

Mike knew he must answer the call.

The Mount Airy News wrote an article about his commitment to serving others and how it landed him hundreds of miles away from home serving directly the people and families displaced and disturbed by the Georgia floods.

Rodgers’ trip was his 11th disaster response tour with the Army and it landed him in Austell, Georgia manning a mobile feeding kitchen.

Often times, the donation of time and man-hours is as critical in responding to an emergency as financial donations.

Even if you aren’t in a place where you can donate money to support the disaster services work of the Army, you can always train and be ready to give of your time and strength to help the Army comfort others in need.

To find out more about The Salvation Army’s disaster response training, contact your local Salvation Army.

Each year, the Army responds to hundreds of emergencies across the globe.  Will you answer the call?

When it comes to Ben Stein – his monotone voice, dry humor and sarcastic wit – most people either love him or hate him.

The Salvation Army Greater Houston Area Command is hoping for the former.

The Houston Business Journal reported that the Command will host Ben Stein as its keynote speaker at its annual luncheon fundraiser.

Though perhaps most famously known for his role in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and as the dry spokesvoice for Visine ads, Stein is also a noted economist, bestselling author, comic, and former New York Times columnist.

The luncheon is scheduled for Nov. 3rd at the Hilton-Americas Hotel and the proceeds will benefit the Army’s programs in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties.

To learn more about the event or to get tickets, refer to the Greater Houston Area Command’s website.

Now through October 1st, shoppers at Kroger Supermarkets can “round up” the balance of their purchases to help those affected by floods in Georgia.

WTOC News in Savannah, Georgia, reported that through “The Round Up” Program customers can give money to benefit the flood victims by “rounding up” their purchases to the nearest dollar. Customers can also make a monetary donation at any Kroger in Georgia to help provide food, water, clothing, cleaning supplies and other necessities.

It is estimated that more than 300,000 families have been affected by the nearly $250 million of weather-related damage that has ravaged north Georgia.  To better assist the Salvation Army in providing aid to those affected by the severe weather and floods, Kroger’s Atlanta Division will also donate $50,000 in gift cards to the organization and will also provide two truckloads of water to those in need.

Remember those affected by the floods as you shop at Kroger and donate your change to do some good in the lives of those recovering from this natural disaster.  You can also donate – no matter how little or much – online on the national Salvation Army website, by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or by mailing a donation to your local Salvation Army.

This weekend another Kroc Center will open; this time in Salem, OR.

The centers, funded by the estate of Ray and Joan Kroc, are planned for multiple, diverse communities across the country and will help bring jobs and needed resources to families and children awaiting help.

Stephen Carpenter, director of the Kroc Center in Memphis, Tennessee, wrote a column in the Commercial Appeal sharing some of the personal testimonies of those anticipating the help the Kroc Centers will offer.

In his column, Carpenter shares stories of how the Krocs’ generosity – the largest such in the history of the US – will personally impact the community in which it stands.

Is your city getting a Kroc Center?  Is it already open?  Tell us how the opening of a Kroc Center in your community has or will impact your life.

The Salvation Army knows that need knows no season.

Unfortunately, in a troubled economy with more people than ever before seeking help from social service agencies, the Army – and many similar organizations – has found itself in need of help.

Food kitchens and pantries across the country have seen exponential increase in the community’s need for their services.  However, as need continues to rise, donations are becoming few and far between.

However, for one Salvation Army Food Pantry in Austin, Minnesota, the calvary has arrived.

The Austin Daily Herald reports that the United Way’s board of directors in that locale will make a $15,000 donation from their Emergency Fund to assist the Salvation Army in paying its bills.

According to the article, the Army had sent out a plea for help to the community and all of its major donors for help.  The United Way, recognizing the Austin Salvation Army as a sponsored partner, awarded the grant from its Emergency Fund.

Sadly, the story of the Austin Salvation Army is commonplace the nation over.  While are generous during the Army’s Red Kettle Campaign at Christmas, donations of time, talent and money are less plentiful throughout the year when the funds are still needed to support daily social services to the community.

You can help the Army in your area, too, by making a donation.  Online donations can be made here or you can call 1-800-SAL-Army.  You can even mail donations to your local Salvation Army using the National Website’s zip code locator, located in the upper right-hand corner of the site’s homepage.

Be a hero…do some good!

(photo by Eric Johnson) Lori Blanton, case manager for the Salvation Army, stands in the a store room at the Salvation Army that sits low on food items. The Salvation Army, a source for those in need, has now found itself in need, partly because of the struggling economy.

Today, the Daily Commercial reported that The Salvation Army in Leesburg, Florida, honored all current, retired and fallen members of the fire, police and EMS departments in the area.

According to the article, the third annual Public Safety Sunday began as a way to “remember the tragic losses of 9/11.”  Now, every emergency responder who attends – many come on fire trucks and in police cruisers and ambulances, vehicles of the trade – receive prayers and words of thanks from those gathered.

“We just felt that we needed to get together as a family because public safety is really a big family,” Salvation Army Chaplain Steve Griswold said.

Even though the anniversary of the September 11th attacks has passed, kudos to the Leesburg, Florida, Salvation Army, and all those who have taken time to honor the legacy and enduring work of the nation’s first responders.

I’m a huge fan of the television show “The Amazing Race.”  I enjoy watching the wacky team challenges and the team dynamics each week.  It’s a fascinating show simply because you get to see human communication and teamwork at its best – and sometimes its worst.

While I doubt I’d ever be brave enough to tryout for that show…or find a partner crazy enough to pair up for me for the weeks-long, globetrotting expedition, the Western Pennsylvania Salvation Army’s “The Most Amazing Race” looks like it’s going to be just as much fun.

Beginning with a qualifying event today, and the real, scavenger hunt-like challenge tomorrow, 25 teams will race around the city of Pittsburgh, completing zany physical and mental tasks along the way, for a chance to win a prize package that includes $5,000 for first place, two 32-inch flat screen televisions, four Steelers tickets and more.

All they had to do to earn a spot in the race was fundraise a minimum of $500 in the name of The Army.  The team that fundraised the most money will also win a cash prize at the race’s conclusion.

For those of you in the Pittsburgh area who’d like to cheer on the Army’s Most Amazing Racers, an itinerary of tomorrow’s events can be found here.

If you aren’t in the immediate Pittsburgh vicinity, but would still like to participate, consider making an online donation to the Army instead.