Salvation Army’s holiday fundraising drives need our help – Lowell Sun

From the Merrimack Valley to the Twin Cities, the Salvation Army has launched campaigns to help needy families during this holiday season.

On Nov. 6, The Salvation Army of Greater Lowell held its 33rd Annual Christmas Castle Breakfast at Lenzi’s in Dracut to kick off its holiday fundraising campaign to support local families in need.

And on Nov. 12, the Salvation Army of Fitchburg staff, volunteers, local officials, and community members gathered at the nonprofit agency’s Water Street headquarters to publicize the start of the holiday season Red Kettle Campaign.

And since charity at this time of year knows no bounds, there’s no reason not to support both the Salvation Army and Sun Santa efforts at the same time.

Established on Dec. 20, 1884, the Salvation Army’s Lowell Corps serves the Greater Lowell area, providing social and emergency services to residents from Lowell, Tyngsboro, Dracut, Tewksbury, Billerica, Chelmsford and Dunstable.

The Christmas Castle began as a way to provide a central location where families could receive food, clothing, and gifts during the holidays.

The Corps provides food for the hungry, rent and utility to those who are struggling and a safe place for youth and families. The Lowell location, based at 150 Appleton St., operates right in the heart of one of the city’s most impacted neighborhoods.

The full house at Lenzi’s featured business leaders, elected officials and other supporters from the community.

This year the non-profit roasted Paul Belley as honorary chair of this year’s Christmas Castle, ably assisted by emcee City Councilor Rita Mercier, Lowell Mayor Dan Rourke and Lowell City Manager Tom Golden.

A Lowell resident, Belley has become synonymous with service to the community, along with his musical talents.

The breakfast is the first in a series of outreach and fundraising events by the Salvation Army and its supporters during the holidays.

Salvation Army members and volunteers will soon take to the streets with their iconic red kettles and hand bells, ringing in donations during the holiday season.

And the centerpiece of the holiday fundraising drive, the annual Salvation Army Radiothon & Auction, will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, at WCAP Radio’s Market Street studios in downtown Lowell.

Last year’s event raised more than $250,000. The auction includes sports tickets, gift certificates and a wide range of products and services.

Last year’s holiday drive provided 1,761 area children with toys, clothing, and winter supplies, as well as 1,022 food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

No doubt, with the public’s assistance, the Lowell Salvation Army Corps will enable even more families in need to have a merry Christmas season.

For more information on how to support the Salvation Army in Lowell, to volunteer, donate or learn about local services, visit salvationarmyma.org/Lowell.

In Fitchburg, the annual Tree of Lights tradition signifies the Salvation Army branch’s outreach effort for the funds needed to support its mission.

“The need is great. People are hungry, the food pantry has been a revolving door,” said longtime Salvation Army Fitchburg Corps Envoy Lynette Valentine-Warren.

“People who used to give are now receiving, which can be tough for them,” Valentine-Warren said.

She’s asking people to “give with joy” towards this year’s $125,000 Salvation Army Fitchburg Corps Red Kettle Campaign fundraising goal.

It’s money that feeds families, provides children with holiday gifts, and assists with housing costs, to name just a few of the things the Salvation Army does to help locals in need.

“You see that star lit, you know our goal has been reached,” said Valentine-Warren, referring the star atop the metal tree that sits in front of the headquarters, which serves as a gathering place, food pantry, and more for residents of Fitchburg, Leominster, and Lunenburg.

Her identical twin sister Jeanette Valentine, who served as a Salvation Army captain for years, arrived from Ohio to help out with the busy holiday season as the Fitchburg Corps Red Kettle Campaign coordinator.

“She’s bringing a lot of enthusiasm,” Valentine-Warren said of her sister, who shared that one of the greatest challenges they face each year is getting local organizations, groups, and businesses involved with the campaign, whether as donors or bell ringers.

Anyone interested in lending a helping can email Jeanette.Valentine@use.salvationarmy.org or Lynnette.Valentine@use.salvationarmy.org.

QR codes on the red kettles make it easy to contribute if you’re not carrying cash when encountering bell ringers. The kettles will be placed around the region over the next several weeks leading up to Christmas.

You can also donate by visiting give.salvationarmy.org/campaign/729445/donate.

Operating locally for more than 135 years, the Salvation Army has relied on its iconic Red Kettle Campaign since the 1890s to provide support and services to those in need. To ensure critical services remain available through the holidays and beyond.

The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division’s ambitious goal is to raise $2.3 million this season across the state.

On average, volunteer bell ringers raise enough money to provide several meals to children and families in their respective towns.

This year, The Salvation Army is encouraging families to volunteer to ring the bells together to get in the holiday spirit and support people in their local communities as part of the Red Kettle Campaign.

So, from Wilmington to Winchendon, let’s show that it’s indeed more blessed to give than receive and put our Salvation Army branches over their fund-raising goals.