Valued partners help The Salvation Army carry out its mission

Memphis, Tennessee: School children display donations that came from “Stuff the Bus,” a recent partnership of The Salvation Army and Walmart where shoppers gave knapsacks, binders, arts and crafts supplies and other goods to help needy families. “Back-to-school is a lot different this year, but whether they're in class or learning at home, kids still need classroom essentials,” The Salvation Army said in a Facebook posting in which it thanked everyone who shopped the Memphis Area Command’s Walmart Registry. “These supplies will help children in our programs learn, grow and succeed!”

Atlanta, Georgia: Commissioner Willis Howell joined The Salvation Army Atlanta International Corps in Atlanta on Sunday, Sept. 20, as the corps strengthened its forces with new enrollments: (from left) junior soldiers Adrianna Marroquin, Marjorie Jaquez Navarette and Angela Matias Morales; Commissioner Howell; and soldiers Mark Ellis, Carly Luna, Gary Repass and Thomas Repass.

Charleston, West Virginia: Every month, Salvation Army employees and volunteers set up feeding and food distribution tables in the parking lot of a former grocery store on the west side of Charleston, an initiative in partnership with the United Way, Kanawha Valley Collective and Cabin Creek Health Systems. In addition to MREs (each person received one, and some families received two), volunteers packed hot meals to go: chicken, mashed potatoes, bread and a sweet. Recipients walk up or drive through in their vehicles. The August event served 308 people, fewer than in the past because the weather was uncooperative; past feedings have served up to 500 people.

Raleigh, North Carolina: Project CATCH (Community Action Targeting Children who are Homeless) has kept The Salvation Army of Wake County, North Carolina, busy, and the work has been rewarding. The initiative got good promotion from local media and many donations of school supplies for needy school children. A total of 281 students were registered for the giveaway, which took place over two days. Among the organizations partnering with the Army were Garner United Methodist Church, Christ First Christian Fellowship Center, Diaper Bank, Safe Families, Myriad’s Angels, Pleasant Hill United Church of Christ, Haven House and Note in the Pocket.

Athens, Georgia: Uly Johnston, of Boy Scouts of America Troop 1, First United Methodist Church, leads fellow Scouts in his Eagle project: rebuilding eight planter boxes and adding new ones, realigning irrigation lines, and cleaning out debris and weeds in The Salvation Army’s H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Eat) garden in Athens. The garden is tended by volunteers from the community and supplies fresh produce to the corps soup kitchen to feed homeless individuals and families. “Uly was asked, why did you choose us?” the corps said in a Facebook posting. “His response: ‘I could not think of a better place to help serve. The Salvation Army helps so many people, I wanted to help you, help OTHERS.’"

Louisville, Kentucky: Captain Jimmy Parrish, Louisville area commander, accepts a $50,000 check from Tom Van Etten of the Lions Club in celebration of the Lions’ 100 years in Louisville and to support The Salvation Army Pathway of Hope anti-poverty effort. The award will expand strength-based case management to as many as 25 more families living in poverty. The Salvation Army will work with them to move toward long-term self-sufficiency and break the cycle of generational poverty.

Chattanooga, Tennessee: Members of RockPoint Church and The Salvation Army put together "Beat the Heat" packages as they prepare to visit some of Chattanooga's larger homeless communities. The volunteers gave out more than 100 of the care packages as well as bottled water and barbecue sandwich meals. In a Facebook posting, the church said its members were thankful they were “able to connect with, converse with and love on those in our city most in need. It was so cool getting to see people face to face, to learn their names, hear their stories, and love them right where they are at.”

Atlanta, Georgia: Major Pierre Smith, senior officer at the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Atlanta, prepares the center’s food pantry distribution, held every Monday from 11 a.m. to noon. Currently outdoors because of COVID-19 restrictions, the program serves about 30 families per week from the Pittsburgh and Adair Park neighborhoods southwest of downtown. The Kroc Center also serves hot lunches three times a week to neighbors in need.