By Jorge Vazquez
Nov 28, 2023, 06:00 AM EST
The Salvation Army, the nation’s largest private provider of social services, is asking for public support to benefit people in need in the United States this Giving Tuesday.
The organization, which has a presence in nearly every ZIP code in the country, relies on donations from the public to support programs that change the lives of nearly 24 million people in the United States each year.
“Every day, millions of families struggle to make ends meet. Whether a single parent who needs child care while working or an individual who simply needs a safe place to sleep, every person deserves to have their basic needs met,” said Commissioner Kenneth Hodder, national commander of the Salvation Army.
“At The Salvation Army, people who come to us for help receive services based on their needs and our ability to help. “That is only possible thanks to the generosity of our donors,” Hodder added.
The following options are available for those who wish to help their neighbors in need:
· Donate in cash, coins and checks or digitally with Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Venmo at any Kettle Network nationwide.
· Provide Christmas gifts to children of local families in need through the Salvation Army Angel Tree. You can also contact your local Salvation Army to volunteer to distribute donated Angel Tree gifts.
· Contact your local Salvation Army to sign up to volunteer with Red Kettle.
· Sign up for a $25/month donation at Give.SalvationArmyUSA.org.
· Give any amount by texting “KETTLES” to 51555.
· Donate cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum.
In 2022, the Salvation Army saw requests for assistance increase by between 10% and 40% in some communities. This year, based on the increase in evictions over the past 11 months, the organization expects the number of requests for assistance could increase by another 13% or more.
Despite increased operating expenses, The Salvation Army remains committed to its mission of meeting human needs without discrimination, regardless of the cost.
Last year, donations to the Salvation Army helped the organization:
· Keep 3.1 million families in their homes and with the lights on.
· Provide more than 155 million meals and 8 million nights of accommodation.
· Help 600,000 disaster survivors and first responders access food, shelter, and emotional and spiritual care.
· Provide more than 550,000 children with a safe place to play and learn at day and summer camps.
With the depletion of federal aid programs, the organization expects non-governmental providers of social services to be in greater demand. A study by The Century Foundation found that the end of pandemic-era child care funding will affect 3 million children, making fundraising even more critical this year.
“When you donate to the Salvation Army this Giving Tuesday, you make a difference in millions of lives across the country and in your community,” Hodder said. “Regardless of how you choose to give, whether you donate to Red Kettle or adopt an angel from our angel trees, we thank you for loving your neighbors this Giving Tuesday and beyond.”
Visit SalvationArmyUSA.org to learn more about ways to support and donate this holiday season.
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