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A look at the volunteer efforts of the Army
National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, recognizes volunteers and encourages people of all ages to seek out creative ways to get involved in their communities. Last year, The Salvation Army had 3,400,000 volunteers donate their time.
President Obama stated in a White House press release, “Service is a lifelong pursuit that strengthens the civic and economic fabric of our Nation. With every hour and every act, our lives are made richer, our communities are drawn closer, and our country is forged stronger by the dedication and generous spirit of volunteers.”
In 2011, The Salvation Army volunteers:
•Served thousands of hot meals, snacks and drinks to survivors of the Joplin, Mo., tornadoes.
•Showed up along with first responders throughout the year to offer a helping hand, a hug and a meal to the hundreds of thousands of hurricane and tornado survivors.
•Changed the lives of almost 190,000 kids from low-income families at The Salvation Army’s summer and day camps.
•Coordinated back-to-school initiatives to ensure disadvantaged children and youth returned to school with the necessary supplies and confidence for success in the classroom.
•Raised 147.6 million in donations by ringing bells at Red Kettles this past Christmas, which will assist approximately 30 million Americans this year.
•Coordinated and sorted through hoards of toys and presents in Salvation Army gymnasiums and warehouses across the country, to ensure thousands of disadvantaged kids experienced the joy of Christmas morning as a part of our Angel Tree program.
Please contact your local Salvation Army unit to find out how you can offer your time. For a list of other projects in your community, visit www.Serve.gov or type in your zip code at www.volunteermatch.org.
