Salvation Army starts giving season 100 Days before Christmas

WASILLA — The Salvation Army Alaska Division recently started their 100-day countdown to Christmas, getting an early start to prepare for another challenging holiday season stressed by the pandemic.

Like countless others across the country, Alaskans everywhere continue to struggle financially after being directly impacted by COVID-19, prompting the Salvation Army to campaign early and call on everyone to help individuals and families overcome the threat of lacking resources to provide for themselves amid the holiday season.

“With the ongoing pandemic, The Salvation Army of Alaska anticipates requests for service to continue to increase this holiday season,” Alaska Salvation Army Divisional Commander, Lt. Colonel Doug Tollerud stated in a recent press release. “With the public’s generosity, The Salvation Army will continue to provide help and hope to assist as many individuals and families in need as possible.”

The Salvation Army has been providing aid to those affected by the pandemic since the onset, coordinating with various other agencies in each respective community to help each Alaskan wherever they’re at.

According to the press release, the Salvation Army aided 76,928 Alaskans over the course of 2020, providing 298,758 meals, transitioning 256 families into permanent housing, and distributing 37,750 toys and gifts.

The Salvation Army anticipates a particularly busy season due to the resurging COVID-19 case numbers, and the eviction moratorium being lifted, according to communications manager, Natalie Clendenin.

She indicated that their social services program will be working on the frontlines helping those affected by the pandemic on top of all the other urgent needs requiring assistance to “ensure hope marches on.”

Donations stay within their communities, ensuring that hope marches on with neighbors helping neighbors across the state.

For more information about donations or volunteer work with the Mat-Su Salvation Army visit mat-suvalley.salvationarmy.org. Those outside the Valley can visit Alaska.salvationarmy.org to find their area’s dedicated corps office.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com

BREAKOUT:

The following options are available for those wishing to support their neighbors in need:

• Enlist in Love’s Army with a sustaining gift of $25 per month

• Sign up to volunteer at your local Salvation Army to ring bells at the red kettle (The Salvation Army is applying national safety protocols at all red kettles to ensure the safety of bell ringers, donors, and partners)

• Distribute Angel Tree gifts to children in need

• Donate digitally with Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Venmo at any red kettle across the country

• Donate cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or Ethereum for the first year ever

• Ask Amazon Alexa to donate by saying, “Alexa, donate to The Salvation Army,” then specifying the amount

• Give any amount by texting “KETTLES” to 51555

• Provide new toys and clothing through The Salvation Army Angel Tree for local children of families in need.