It’s a Record: $142 Million in Giving!

Thank you, America! The Salvation Army raised $142 million in Christmas Red Kettles during the 2010 season, setting a record for the sixth straight year!

This is great news considering how much more need we’ve seen across the country, and these funds will go to support our many programs year round.

Wow. It was a busy Red Kettle season, to say the least. We used many of our traditional efforts, from the volunteer bell ringers you probably saw on every corner, to our annual Thanksgiving Day Kickoff at Cowboys Stadium. Plus, we had a few new ideas up our sleeves, like our Rock the Red Kettle Concert and a new iPhone app.

When it all comes down to it, though, we couldn’t have done any of this without you. Thank you for your generosity. And thanks to our many corporate partners for your continued support. We’re very grateful for all of your help with assisting those in need!

If you’d like to know more about our record Red Kettle Season, check out our official press release here.

Or if you’re more of a visual person, you may prefer this cool fact sheet:

Fight Hunger with a Click and a “Like”

Did you know that in the United States 1 in 6 people don’t know where their next meal will come from? Or that 37 million people have sought help from food pantries or banks? Did you know 18.5 million children eat free or reduced-price lunches at school?

Walmart stores are pledging over $2 billion by 2015 to fight hunger in America, and between now and the end of the year they’re letting you choose to whom $1.5 million of that will go.

How It Works:

* Visit fightinghunger.walmart.com where you’ll find a list of 100 communities along with each of their food hardship rates.

* Login to Facebook and “Like” the community you think needs the funds the most. Your “Like” counts as one vote.

* The community with the most votes will receive $1 million, and the next five communities will receive $100,000 each. The funds will be divided up amongst a number of local organizations fighting hunger (like The Salvation Army) in those supported communities.

You’ll be furthering the cause with just a click of a mouse.

If the virtual world isn’t your preference, or you’d just like to do more, step away from your computer and into a Walmart store this week. From Nov. 15 – Nov. 22 Walmart facilities across the country are hosting in-store food drives to benefit local-area food banks. Donate non-perishable foods for another simple way to help fight hunger.

Find Walmart’s Fighing Humger campaign on Facebook here. While you’re on the site, swing by The Salvation Army’s page here.