While many of us associate the Christmas season with thoughts of festive gatherings with family and friends, there are many whose spirits are dulled by the harsh realities of simply making ends meet.  The Salvation Army is making great strides to be a beacon of hope to those local families who desperately need a helping hand this holiday season.

Traditionally, The Salvation Army’s bell ringers help generate significant local support for programs community-wide.  However, because of the great needs throughout the state, The Salvation Army faces additional challenges.

Home foreclosures have reached unprecedented levels, job losses continue to increase and prices for everyday essentials have been rising sharply.  All of these factors contribute to an increase in the number of families seeking help from the Army during the Christmas season.

“With uncertainty over the economy and increasing job losses, we are thankful to our generous donors who make it possible for us to meet these ever-growing needs,” says Donna Harris, director of the Salvation Army in Brownwood. “With help from the community, The Salvation Army will provide food, coats and emergency assistance to those in real need in our community at Christmastime, as we’ve done for over 100 years in America.”

Harris explained the needs of people go beyond the holidays as do the Salvation Army’s programs.

“Although our visibility is heightened during the holidays, it is important for the community to know that The Salvation Army’s programs are ongoing.  We’re not just going to hand out a blanket and a cup of coffee to a needy person. We want to get them back on their feet and moving into a productive and fulfilling life,” explained Harris. “Our motivation comes from faith in Jesus and at The Salvation Army we’ll help them regain their hope and purpose by sharing the good news of God’s love and offering support in any way we can.”

For more information about the programs and services of The Salvation Army in Brownwood, or to make a donation, please call (325) 646-5369 or stop by and visit us at 403 Lakeway, Brownwood, TX 76801. You can also find The Salvation Army of Texas online at www.salvationarmytexas.org, twitter.com/SalArmyTX, and facebook.com/SalvationArmyTexas.  And as always, secure donations can be made online at www.salvationarmytexas.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.