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Rising levels of anxiety, uncertainty and fear resulting from the coronavirus crisis are increasing the need for, and number of calls to, The Salvation Army’s national Emotional and Spiritual Care (ESC) Hotline. Since April 10, nearly 150 trained ESC specialists have answered calls from people across the nation looking for support. In order to fulfill the growing need for this service, Budweiser is stepping up to help meet that demand.
“This is a crisis unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. The feelings of loneliness and fear we’re hearing through our hotline are understandable, and we want people to know there’s someone here to listen,” said Commissioner David Hudson, National Commander. “We anticipate a rise in service requests the longer this pandemic goes on, and we’re grateful to have a partner like Budweiser come alongside us to help meet these needs.”
The unprecedented social isolation that has come from this pandemic is something Budweiser is shedding a light on with its new PSA campaign that utilizes its iconic “Whassup” commercial as a reminder for Americans to check-in with their loved ones. As part of this campaign, Budweiser approached The Salvation Army to make a generous donation to support those in need as a result of COVID-19. With the generosity and awareness from Budweiser, The Salvation Army will be able to aid even more people looking for help.
“Not everyone has someone to check in on them during this time of great uncertainty,” said Monica Rustgi, Vice President, Marketing for Budweiser. “Our ‘Whassup’ PSA reminds us the power of connecting with one another, now more than ever, and Budweiser is proud to empower The Salvation Army and its efforts to be the friendly listener on the other line.”
If you’re looking for local services, spiritual guidance, or if you just need someone to talk with, the hotline is available by calling 1-844-458-HOPE (4673) from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. PT. Specialists speak English and Spanish, and callers are encouraged to leave a message if they call after hours.
HOW TO HELP:
- If you’d like to make a monetary donation, please click here to make a gift.
- Text ‘GIVE’ to 52000 to make a $10 donation to The Salvation Army. This will automatically add a one-time donation to your next mobile phone bill.
- For information about volunteering, please visit volunteer.usawest.org.
- To learn more about how to support The Salvation Army’s relief efforts, please click here.
