April is Alcohol Awareness Month

April is National Alcohol Awareness Month – an opportunity to raise awareness of alcohol abuse, prevent underage drinking, and encourage all people to make healthy, safe choices. As such, The Salvation Army is praying for the full recovery of those who suffer from personal or familial alcohol abuse: please join us!

Responding To Dallas/Ft. Worth Tornadoes

In response to the 12 tornadoes that struck the Dallas/Fort Worth area, The Salvation Army deployed two mobile kitchens to provide food, hydration, and emotional comfort to people in two locations, including the Kelly area of Arlington and The Salvation Army community center in Pleasant Grove where local residents have sought a safe place to stay during the storms. The mobile vehicles may move to new locations depending on changing needs or emerging situations.

Hanes Donation Provides Warmth & Opportunities for Ministry

Did you know socks are the #1 item requested at our homeless shelters? And thanks to Hanes’ generous donation of 250,000 pairs this last Christmas season, our shelters were able to provide many individuals with this much-needed and often overlooked commodity.

Guest blogger Captain Phil Smith in Santa Barbara, California decided to use part of their sock donation to support their “Street Level” Outreach Ministry.

Day Three: Updates from IN, KY & TN

The Salvation Army is serving in several states following the weekend’s violent weather that killed 39 people, injured many, and destroyed communities throughout the Midwest and South.

As a reminder that spring has yet to arrive, residents in Indiana and Kentucky – who endured an EF-4 tornado on Friday – are now suffering cold weather and snow while they work to restore what’s left of their homes.

Aid Continues Following Historic Tornadoes

The Salvation Army continues to provide aid to impacted areas of the Midwest and Southern United States following a series of historic tornadoes and severe weather that left a path of devastation and destruction yesterday. Our Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) teams are on the scene of service in multiple states.

Salvation Army’s Vintage TV Ads

We always enjoy reading the fun stories and the innovative ideas of The Salvation Army’s Western Territory on their blog Expect Change.

Lately, we’ve been loving their posts that feature Salvation Army TV advertisements from back in the day. The old commercials were discovered by the West’s MultiMedia Ministries staff and we’re thankful that they made them available for everyone to see!

Introducing Digital Donating with Square Technology

The Salvation Army is accepting mobile credit card donations via smartphones equipped with Square technology at its Red Kettles in select cities.

Now Available: 2011 Online Annual Report

A Time for Every Purpose- this is the theme of The Salvation Army’s 2011 Online Annual Report, now available at http://annualreport.salvationarmyusa.org/.

This verse from Ecclesiastes rings true when we reflect back on the challenges and blessings of this last year. We’re reminded – as both an organization and as individuals – of our God-given purpose to serve others during this temporal life.

We’re proud to report that, guided by God’s love and your compassion and support, The Salvation Army served 30 million Americans in 2010!

Our time to fight is always the present. The recession has created a higher demand for food services and a decline in charitable donations. Food shortages were the result, but we were still able to serve 64 million meals in 2010.

Here are some additional numbers:

5: The number of completed and opened Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Centers in 2010 – there are now 17 completed centers throughout the country!

7,675: The number of operating Salvation Army units nationwide.

$1.82 billion: Total public support – an increase from $1.66 billion in 2009.

$3.24 billion: The amount we spent serving people – an increase from $3.12 billion in 2009

82 cents: …of every spent dollar went towards Salvation Army program services.

In addition, the report includes examples of The Salvation Army’s expanded efforts in the fight against human trafficking.

We couldn’t do any of this without your support and generosity. Thank you for helping us fulfill our mission of “Doing the Most Good”.

“Through every time and for every purpose to which God has called us, The Salvation Army presses on, joyfully and with determination”

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Want to share these stats? Let your friends know about the 30 million Americans who benefited from The Salvation Army’s work. You can do so by visiting us on Facebook or Twitter. To learn more about The Salvation Army, please visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org.

Stay tuned for the Online Video!

“Doing the Most Good” Because of Your Support!

“I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.” Psalm 140:12

As Americans we’re somewhat conditioned to believe there is always “someone else” taking the financial lead on helping the poor. But in the current economic crisis, that “someone” is a shrinking number.

As you might imagine, charitable organizations are majorly struggling to stay afloat in the current economic climate. The ingredients for wealth – a free market and a stable economy – are the same ingredients that encourage charitable giving. Dwindling bank accounts and lost job security means charitable organizations suffer. And rightfully so: one must take care of their own family before that of others.

But the recession also means there’s a larger demand for need. In fact, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army has seen a 30% increase in requests for financial assistance. Whereas in a healthy economy, charities are normally readily available to help, this overwhelming increase means resources are drying up faster. It seems there is a new story every day about the empty shelves at Salvation Army food banks across the country.

But with your support, The Salvation Army can fill the need. With a presence of over 7,000 locations nationwide, we are ready to provide for those who need housing, clothes, furniture, financial assistance, rehabilitation, spiritual counseling, or toys at Christmas – to name a few.

But we can’t do any of this without your support.

While times are tough and pocketbooks are tight, your love can still be shown in a number of ways. Your monetary donations, whether large or small, make possible our many programs and help thousands in financial despair. Your old coats can keep members of your community warm during the winter months. Your donated goods could change a life at our Adult Rehabilitation Centers. Every bit of your support is immensely appreciated by all and enables your local Salvation Army to fill an ever-increasing need in your community.

You can visit our website to learn more about ways to give. To find out ways that you can help your local Salvation Army fill that need, click here and type in your zip code in the upper-right corner.

Thank You for Your Support of The Salvation Army!

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18

Youth Driven to “Do the Most Good”

What an inspiring gal!

Katie Wilkinson, a high school junior in Tempe, AZ started a “Red Kettle Club” at her school, a student group that will support the community year-round by means of The Salvation Army.

Through social media outlets, a PowerPoint presentation, and persuasion, Katie attracted more than two dozen students to the first meeting to tell fellow students about her idea. Club members will coordinate fundraising events in Tempe to support Salvation Army Programs that Help – an initiative that encourages donors to help community members in need.

She’s already planned the first event- an all-day bell ringing affair outside of Kroger’s on December 3 to benefit the homeless.

Inspired by her parents’ volunteer efforts her entire life, Katie is “Doing the Most Good” in their footsteps. We’re amazed at her love and dedication!

Check out the original article here.

Want to “Do the Most Good” in your community? Visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org and type in your zip code in the upper right corner to contact your local Salvation Army.