The Salvation Army is urging generous North Texans to come together to support their neighbors combatting poverty, addiction, and homelessness amidst continuously high requests for assistance this holiday season.
The Salvation Army has the goal in North Texas this year to give 45,000 children presents under the tree through the Angel Tree program, which opens today, recruit more volunteer bell ringers, and generate enough support through its holiday fundraising to continue services for more than 100,000 individuals in 2025.
In 2023, The Salvation Army of North Texas raised around $1.5 million through its iconic Red Kettles, which launch on Thanksgiving. Their goal is to raise $425,000 through the Red Kettle campaign for Dallas County programming (for Carr P. Collins, Irving, Oak Cliff, Pleasant Grove, and Garland)
The money raised through the Red Kettle campaign allows The Salvation Army to provide both immediate and long-term services that meet urgent physical needs of food and shelter, while encouraging stability and self-sufficiency through comprehensive case management. Last year, The Salvation Army of North Texas distributed more than 4 million pounds of food through its food pantries, delivered more than 205,600 nights of safe shelter, served 660,000 meals to individuals experiencing homelessness, provided addiction recovery services to around 500 individuals, and connected nearly 2,000 individuals to permanent and stable housing.
“Every day, thousands of North Texans are choosing between keeping the lights on or putting food on the table,” said Major Paul McFarland, area commander for The Salvation Army of North Texas. “The holidays bring added financial and emotional stress for those who are already struggling to make ends meet so the compassionate generosity of those who can give is essential to ensuring we can effectively meet community-specific needs year-round.”
The Salvation Army is offering a variety of opportunities for North Texans to give a gift that alleviates the monetary burden of the holidays — and lasts into next year. There are many ways to get involved this season:
- Donate in-person or online — all money stays within the community in which it was given
- Participate in Angel Tree to ensure that children, seniors, and special needs adults feel the joy of Christmas morning
- Adopt an angel at participating locations in-person or online staring November 1
- Drop off gifts at drive-thru locations on December 6-7
- Register to bell ring at a Red Kettle near you or start a Virtual Red Kettle
- Openings are available as an individual or with a group
- Sign up to volunteer at a facility in your community, helping distribute groceries, serve meals, staff youth programs, create hygiene kits, and more
To learn more, visit SalvationArmyNorthTexas.
