Ring the Bell

Ask someone about The Salvation Army and chances are the first thing they’ll think of will be the bell ringing – not that that’s necessarily a bad thing. However, when it comes to The Salvation Army, the Christian-based organization is much more than red kettles and bell ringers. This is something the Orlando Area Command is striving to convey.

The organization, which has been in Orlando for 94 years, is placing a renewed focus on the community impact, the results, and the positive changes. In order to offer the community an accurate glimpse of honest results and hard work, The Salvation Army has been motivated to become even more transparent. This is something that its CEO, Major Mark A. Woodcock, stands behind. He says he wants the community to know more of what the organization does.

So, what is Woodcock speaking of exactly? Perhaps it is the fact that over 107,000 hot meals were served in the Salvation Army’s shelters during its last fiscal year. Or it could be the testimony of the depressed homeless gentleman whom the Salvation Army’s case managers were able to help move into a home. Or maybe the illiterate mother of five whom the Salvation Army helped enroll in literacy courses. Woodcock may be referring to any of those accounts. After all, they do seem to have one thing in common: positive results.

This is something that can be seen in any of the Salvation Army’s programs. Its Orlando campus is one of the largest in Florida and features a church for spiritual growth, two homeless shelters, a social services department, two HUD-subsidized high rises for low-income seniors, and a gymnasium for youth programs. Tours are offered regularly.

The Salvation Army is here to rebuild broken homes and broken lives. Perhaps that’s worth the ringing of a bell.

How You Can Help:
1. Donate money. The Salvation Army thanks you for your generosity and support.
2. Donate time. Volunteers form the Army behind The Salvation Army. More details are available at SalvationArmyOrlando.com.
3. Host a drive. The Salvation Army is always in need of items for program clients. Host a food drive or toiletry drive to benefit the organization.