Hi Friends,
Some of my favorite commercials on TV are by The Salvation Army. Have you seen any of them? There are so many good ones. Check this one out:
A great rendition of "This Little Light of Mine" here:
My favorite one is on TV quite a bit right now, but I can't find a video of it anywhere. The theme of it is something like "Saved" and the camera focuses in on workers at the Salvation Army each saying words like "Not Junk," speaking of the items people drop off, but also - and I probably don't need to point this out to anyone - about themselves. It's incredibly moving! (If anyone finds it, please send me the link.)
In fact, it inspired me to take a carload of our belongings to our local SA this past weekend. And not the old crusty stuff either.... The good stuff! My kids were actually screaming in the car "Why are you giving that away?!?" as they saw me unloading from my trunk, but the spirit of the commercials just moved me.
Here are some interesting facts about the Salvation Army straight from their
website:
- The Salvation Army assists more than 42 million individuals throughout the year in the United States – almost 6 million of those during the holiday season alone.
- The Salvation Army operates several domestic violence shelters nationwide, where abused women and children can get a fresh start in life, safely and confidentially.
- Salvation Army adult rehabilitation centers annually help more than 220,000 people from every walk of life fight substance abuse and return to their communities as participating, contributing members.
- When you shop at Salvation Army thrift stores, you are helping individuals in our 160+ adult rehabilitation centers nationwide through work therapy.
- The red Christmas kettle debuted in San Francisco in 1891 in the guise of a crab pot. A depression had thrown many out of work, including hundreds of seamen and longshoremen. The campaign proved so successful that by 1900 it was imitated nationwide.
- The Salvation Army provided an opportunity to camp for more than 186,000 underprivileged children, seniors, and adults last year.
- 88% of your donation to The Salvation Army goes directly to program funding to help people who need it most.
- The Salvation Army was at the frontlines in World Wars I and II, offering comfort and pastoral guidance.
- Peter Drucker called The Salvation Army “by far the most effective organization in the U.S.,” in Forbes magazine.
- Known for their brass band music, The Salvation Army has approximately 2,500 brass bands worldwide.
- The phrase “on the wagon” was coined by men and women receiving the services of The Salvation Army. Former National Commander Evangeline Booth – founder William Booth’s daughter – drove a hay wagon through the streets of New York to encourage alcoholics on board for a ride back to The Salvation Army. Hence, alcoholics in recovery were said to be “on the wagon.”
- The Salvation Army led in the formation of the USO – United Services Organization. The USO operates service units, which serve members of the armed forces abroad.
- “Strawberry Fields Forever” in the Beatles 1966 song by that name, is John Lennon’s nostalgic reference to a Salvation Army orphanage called Strawberry Field in Woolton, England. Lennon is said to have played with childhood friends in the trees behind the orphanage when he was a boy.
What a neat organization. I plan to be more intentional in supporting the Salvation Army in the future. If you see me outside of Publix ringing a bell in a few months, you'll know why!!
