Lt. Mario Bledsoe, a corps officer (pastor) at The Salvation Army Benton Harbor Corps in Michigan, gives a glimpse into how the corps plans and prepares for the season. 

The Salvation Army 133rd annual Red Kettle campaign launches during the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game. But The Salvation Army starts planning for the campaign months before. “We are planning and thinking about Christmas all year,” said Lt. Mario. “Around August, we begin aggressively planning by meeting with staff, checking bells, kettles and poles, and reaching out to kettle sites to receive approval to ring for the season.” 

Officers hire seasonal employees, meet with store managers and ensure materials (bells, poles, kettles) are ready for the season. They also attend events that are happening in the area to share about The Salvation Army. Officers prepare ringing schedules, place kettles in front of the stores and set kettle goals.  

Volunteers play an essential role in the Red Kettle season. Volunteers come from both the corps and the community. “In the community, we reach out to service clubs, and we ask high schools if they are willing to use this time for their students to gain service-learning hours,” explained Lt. Mario. The Benton Harbor corps also uses the website registertoring.com, a website designed to recruit volunteers for The Salvation Army during the kettle season, to collect volunteer information. 

The corps also plans for the Angel Tree program at the same time as kettles. “Angel Tree helps provide Christmas gifts to children of our community of whom parents would have experienced difficulties purchasing gifts on their own,” said Lt. Mario. In Benton Harbor, the corps operates a men’s shelter. There, during the season, men can reconnect with their families; the corps helps provide gifts for their children. “Angel Tree allows us to compassionately serve families, and in return, families are grateful that The Salvation Army is here.” 

What does a day in the life of a corps officer look like during the Red Kettle season? According to Lt. Mario, a typical day during the Christmas season can include meeting with kettle workers, driving them to their locations, going to the bank, keeping track of donations, and meeting with friends of the community who need social service assistance. It would also include picking up Christmas gifts and taking Christmas applications for Angel Tree. 

To see how you can donate to The Salvation Army this Christmas season, visit salvationarmyusa.org. To volunteer to be a bell ringer, visit registertoring.com. 

Back To School with Micah Hyde

In late August, Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde and his foundation IMagINe for Youth Foundation partnered with The Salvation Army to provide the children of the families at The Salvation Army Buffalo Area Services with backpacks and other school supplies. 

“Trying to be a positive role model for these kids and it means the world to me,” said Micah Hyde, “that even if one kid here sees me and sees me as a role model and that kind of changes the way they think or whatever they want to be in life, puts a smile on my face.”  

In addition to providing backpacks and school supplies, organizers provided games and activities for the children, as well as “back to school”  haircuts. 

The families in attendance are residents of The Salvation Army’s homeless family shelter. 

Wildfires in Maui

Towards the end of the summer, devastating wildfires broke out on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Many homes were destroyed, and hundreds of lives were lost. Thousands of acres of land were burned, including within the historic Lahaina area. The Salvation Army’s Lahaina Lighthouse Corps complex, including the administrative building, church, thrift store and residential quarters, was also burned down. In the face of this tragedy, The Salvation Army was once again on the frontlines, serving those in need and providing assistance wherever possible with the help of several corporate partners. 

“In time, we will rebuild our buildings, but right now our main focus remains serving those on Maui by not only coordinating and providing meals, but also providing emotional and spiritual care,” said Major Troy Trimmer, Divisional Commander of the Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division. “While this is a devastating time for everyone on Maui and for all who know and love the people of Maui and the island around the world, The Salvation Army is here to support response for all those in need.”

By David Reardon | To donate and find more information on this and other disasters, please visit https://disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/.

Youth Down South

The Southern Territory Youth Department, or “Youth Down South,” is  headquartered in Atlanta, GA and works to present youth with the gospel, lead them to be like Jesus and prepare them to be leaders in their communities. 

On the “Youth Down South” website, youth can find information on various programs and departments like corps cadets and Christian education, evangelism training and leadership development like sign-ups for Salvationist Service Corps. 

On Instagram, @youthdownsouth highlights various youth events across the Southern Territory, like Territorial Youth Institute, but also includes resources and tips for youth and young adults such as “How do I remain on fire for God after camp?” 

To check it out, follow @youthdownsouth on Instagram and Facebook.

Wrestling for All

This past August, The Salvation Army Camden Kroc Center held a free wrestling clinic for local youth with Olympic Gold Medalist and six-time World Champion Jordan Burroughs. 

Burroughs taught children techniques and skills about wrestling. He also shared important life lessons on overcoming adversity and striving for peak performance, resiliency, respect and leadership. 

“I’m so excited to partner with The Salvation Army. Whenever I can align with someone who has similar goals, it helps me to empower the next generation through faith and wrestling,” said Burroughs. 

While fitness can increase endurance and strength, it can also  increase self-esteem.  “The workshop helped to plant seeds of possible future Olympians, and opened doors for boys and girls that may have never considered wrestling as an option for fitness,” said Major Richard Sanchez, Kroc Administrator for The Salvation Army Camden Kroc Center.