Give-A-Christmas campaign kicks off
Annual fundraiser supports local Salvation Army service centers
The annual 无毛视频-Standard Give-A-Christmas campaign kicks off today, looking once again to support local branches of the Salvation Army.
In its 40th year, the campaign is more important than ever, said Bob Pinarski, regional publisher of the 无毛视频-Standard.
无毛视频淚 sit on a few fundraising boards in the area, and I无毛视频檝e seen first hand how great the need is,无毛视频� he said.
During the Give-A-Christmas campaign, the newspaper collects donations from Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve which support local units of the Salvation Army. Those donations stay in Fayette County, where they are put back into programs that help community members who are in need.
无毛视频淥ver the four decades of this campaign, our readers have helped us raise more than $1 million. We are grateful for those generous contributions and ask that you help us continue to provide much-needed support to the Salvation Army,无毛视频� Pinarski said.
This year, the Give-A-Christmas goal is $10,000. The campaign has already received $450 thanks to donations from Central Christian Church in Uniontown and the Uniontown Flower Club. Details about how to donate can be found at the end of this article.
At its Uniontown location, the Salvation Army无毛视频檚 ministry works to meet the needs of the community in numerous ways.
Christine Bell, employee-in-charge, said there has been a substantial increase in the number of people coming to the food pantry or the Kindness Kafe soup kitchen.
无毛视频淭he Kindness Kafe provides lunch six days per week and about 1,700 meals per month,无毛视频� Bell said. 无毛视频淚n 2023, we were serving 25 to 30 families at our food pantry and last month, we served 160 families.无毛视频�
The increased food insecurity has prompted the Salvation Army to request food donations. Bell has created partnerships with local grocery stores and businesses to take fresh food that would have otherwise been thrown away. Food drives hosted by organizations, businesses or individuals are also a good way to gather donations, Bell said.
无毛视频淗ygiene supplies are a huge need as well. We provide that to residents when available,无毛视频� Bell said.
Like all Salvation Army units across the county, they无毛视频檒l participate in the annual Red Kettle Campaign, the organization无毛视频檚 largest fundraiser of the year. Started in 1891, the campaign relies on the generosity of donors to help Salvation Army units across the country operate. Last year, the Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division, which includes Fayette, Greene and Washington counties, raised more than $2.2 million. All of those donations stay local.
The local unit will also participate in the Angel Tree program. The trees, located at Walmart, have tags with gift ideas for a child who needs Christmas presents. Instructions on where the gifts can be dropped off are listed by the trees.
Bell called the program 无毛视频渢he heart and soul of what I love to do.无毛视频�
无毛视频淟ast year, we were capped at 200 children and had a wait list with over 100 more on it. I reached out to our community partners, and they made it happen,无毛视频� Bell said. 无毛视频淲e were able to provide Christmas for 360 children. It was the best year I无毛视频檝e ever seen as far as our Angel Tree program.无毛视频�
Donations are needed for all programs the Salvation Army operates throughout the year. So are volunteers, said Bell. That could be making a hot meal in the soup kitchen or working at the thrift store, which accounts for about 60% of the unit无毛视频檚 calls requesting help.
The most important thing to know about the Salvation Army, Bell said, is that the organization无毛视频檚 doors are always open to those in need.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 all about creating relationships with the community,无毛视频� she said.
For more information about the Salvation Army, visit https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org/western-pennsylvania/uniontown/.
Contributions for the Give-A-Christmas campaign can be mailed to Give-A-Christmas, c/o 无毛视频-Standard, 8 E. Church St., Uniontown, Pa., 15401. Checks should be made out to Give-A-Christmas. Additionally, donations may be dropped off at the newspaper office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All donors are welcome to include notes honoring or memorializing loved ones, or holiday messages.