Salvation Army launches Rescue Christmas initiative

With over 50 retail locations participating this holiday season, The SalvationArmy of Broward County recently launched itsRescueChristmas giving initiative.

Hoping toprovide extra holiday spirit in a year

consumedbyCOVID-19, the nonprofit organization is encouraging benefactors to visit socially distanced RedKettles throughout BrowardCounty aswell as provide donations through its virtual AngelTree registry.

Distributing over 8,000 toys and accumulating over

$200,000 in donations last year, both programs helped The SalvationArmy’s efforts to help those less fortunate.

As more families suffer through furloughs and layoffs due to the pandemic, the number of individuals in need has significantly increased, leaving holiday gifts as an afterthought for this year.

“The economic fallout fromthe ongoing health crisis has led to a new population of families and individuals facing unemployment and financial hardships that are expected to last through the holidays andwell into the coming year,” saidMaj. Stephen Long said, area commander for The SalvationArmy of BrowardCounty.

“It’s up to us, as a community, to support and uplift those in critical need. Through faith, hope and a generosity of spirit, we can ensure our most vulnerable children and families experience joy this holiday season.”

To meet currentCOVID

19 health regulations, the nonprofit is offering smart chips andQR codes at its physical Red Kettle retail locations, giving shoppers the option to scan their phones to make a donation. Donationsmay be made at give. salvationarmyusa.org/

team/323530. In partnership with Walmart, benefactors can also shop for gifts and have them directly delivered to The SalvationArmy of BrowardCounty.

FromnowuntilMonday, Dec. 14, physical Angel Trees with detail tags can be found at the GalleriaMall (2414E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale), Westfield Broward (8000 W. Broward Blvd. in Plan

tation), Pembroke Lakes Mall (11401 Pines Blvd. in Pembroke Pines) and Walmart (6001Coral Ridge Drive inCoral Springs).

Donors can fulfill the gift requests on tags and have the gifts sent to theAngel Tree location or dropped off at The SalvationArmy

of Broward County headquarters for the toy shop distribution drive-thru.

Visit rescuechristmas. org.

THESALVATIONARMYOFBROWARDCOUNTY/ COURTESY Luke Schofield, center, donates toThe SalvationArmy ofBroward County with the help of Fort LauderdaleDeputy Fire Chief/Fire MarshalJeff Lucas andRobert Schofield at last year’s Christmas on Las Olas event.