- The Salvation Army provides assistance to those in need 365 days a year.
- Founded by William Booth in 1865, The Salvation Army is an international organization that meets the physical and spiritual needs of people in 119 countries around the globe, without discrimination.
- With nearly 7,700 centers of operation in the United States, The Salvation Army assists about 29 million individuals nationwide throughout the year - almost 4.5 million of those during the holiday season alone.
- About 83% of your donation to The Salvation Army goes directly to program funding to help people who need it most.
- The Salvation Army operates several domestic violence shelters nationwide, where abused women and children can get a fresh start in life, safely and confidentially.
- When you shop at Salvation Army thrift stores, you are supporting adult rehabilitation centers that annually help more than 340,000 people from every walk of life fight substance abuse and return to their communities as participating, contributing members.
- The Salvation Army's Alegria program in Los Angeles provides transitional and permanent housing and specialized support services to homeless and low-income families affected by HIV/AIDS.
- The red Christmas kettle debuted in San Francisco in 1891 in the guise of a crab pot. A depression had thrown many out of work, including hundreds of seamen and longshoremen. The campaign proved so successful that by 1900 it was imitated nationwide.
- Nearly 3.4 million people volunteer for The Salvation Army nationwide.
- The Salvation Army's work in disaster relief began in 1906 when National Commander Evangeline Booth reportedly committed the Army's entire yearly budget for relief to those suffering the devastation of the San Francisco earthquake.
- The Salvation Army began dispensing fold and drinks near Ground Zero less than an hour after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. In our nearly nine months of service there, 40,000 Salvation Army volunteers, staff and officers assisted 4.5 million people with meals, pastoral counseling and social services.
- The Salvation Army operates a Missing Persons Program, which helped more than 148,000 people last year.
- The Salvation Army's Community Care Ministries visited more than 3 million people with special needs in hospitals, nursing homes, and correctional facilities last year.
- The Salvation Army assists more than 14.6 million people with basic social services each year.
- The Salvation Army provided an opportunity to camp for more than 200,000 underprivileged children, seniors, and adults last year.
- The Salvation Army provided well over 100,000 job referrals last year.
- The phrase "on the wagon" was coined by men and women receiving the services of The Salvation Army. Former National Commander Evangeline Booth - founder William Booth's daughter - drove a hay wagon through the streets of New York to encourage alcoholics on board for a ride back to The Salvation Army. Hence, alcoholics in recovery were said to be "on the wagon."
- The Salvation Army led in the formation of the USO - United Services Organization. The USO operates service units, which serve members of the armed forces abroad.
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