Salvation Army thankful for support

Another Viewpoint is a column The News Herald makes available so all sides of an issues may be aired. Major Alma Riley of Painesville is a corps officer and pastor with Salvation Army Painesville Corps.

The infamous year 2020 is now past, and like most years, we’re looking back at what was and looking ahead to what may be. We here at The Salvation Army in Painesville, along with the rest of the world, are praying for better things ahead. Even so, we’re looking back at 2020 through the lens of the human spirit.

Every day we were open throughout 2020 people entered our building with various concerns and challenges, with diverse ethnicities, different upbringings, opposing political views, and each with their own story of how they came to need our services.

Yet there hasn’t been a single dispute about race, gender identification, political affiliation, or whether COVID is a real thing. Folks have complied with safety guidelines, shown concern for one another, pitched in where help was needed, and they’ve remembered to graciously say “thank you.”

Throughout 2020, the thousands of people receiving some form of service from The Salvation Army would have gone without had it not been for the relentless generosity of individuals and companies throughout Lake County.

From the onset of the pandemic, people reached out to offer support. And this past holiday season exemplifies what we’ve seen all year round.

The 2020 seasonal fundraising goal, aka the “red kettle” goal, was $200,000; an attainable goal in light of the number of businesses willing to host kettle stands and the number of Lake County residents. However, unattainable in 2020 in light of many pandemic-related challenges.

This season half the number of needed volunteers showed up, and some days as few as four bellringers were available to cover our more than 20 locations.

Yet our supporters from all over the county stepped up to help. Thanks is due to groups such as Grove Church in Painesville, the Painesville Lions Club, Painesville Assembly of God who hosted a drive-thru “Cocoa Run,” FroYo in Madison who hosted a counter-top kettle, as well as our own Advisory Board members.

Also, in an attempt to salvage the season, a virtual red kettle was set up online with a goal of $10,000 to help offset any shortfall. Donors heard our call for help and met and exceeded this goal which helped bring our overall total close to $140,000.

With round-up dollars raised at Sam’s Club cash registers, as well as a promised monetary match from an undisclosed benefactor, we fully expect to meet our budgeted goal!

As for Christmas 2020, thanks to the willing spirit of hundreds of sponsors, more than 1,000 children received clothes and toys this Christmas, and more than 500 households received holiday food boxes.

Corporate sponsors, civic groups and churches rallied their members, many of whom shopped online and shipped gifts directly to our facility with their particular child’s code included in the address label. Many first-time individuals and companies supported our Angel Tree program including two additional Walmart stores, Mentor and Chardon, who joined the Madison store in hosting actual trees near their registers.

Most notably, companies such as Avery Denison and Steris, and St. John Vianney Church each sponsored more than 100 children. Winter Equipment not only provided 100 bikes but also monetary gifts to fill unmet wishes, as did the Perry Nuclear Power Plant. Ferrari Transfer graciously offered their trucks and drivers to pick up and deliver toys, and

This past year, the staff, volunteers and soldiers of the Painesville Salvation Army have proven their unwavering commitment to fulfill our mission of “meeting human needs in his (God’s) name without discrimination.”

They deserve to be highly commended for daily “doing the most good for the most people in the most need.”

It’s important for us to say, “thank you.”

Our mission cannot be fulfilled without the support of groups and individuals like those mentioned above.

But this year more than ever, we believe it’s important to also highlight the human ability to do good and to put the needs of others above their own, even despite the most unprecedented and challenging times.

Lake County, you deserve a “well done” for your efforts in 2020 and we anticipate doing great things together in 2021.

Please check our Facebook page — @painesvilleSA — for a more comprehensive listing of sponsors and donors.

This past year, the staff, volunteers and soldiers of the Painesville Salvation Army have proven their unwavering commitment to fulfill our mission ...

Major Alma Riley