The Salvation Army of Lynchburg: Will Every child in Lynchburg experience the joy of Christmas?

Unfortunately, not all children in Greater Lynchburg experience a joyful Christmas. Various challenges, from financial hardship and family issues to homelessness and illness, can overshadow the holiday season for these children.

As thousands of Greater Lynchburg residents are experiencing the impact of inflation and are struggling to make ends meet. The Salvation Army of Lynchburg stands on the frontlines of need, offering love and hope not only during Christmas but beyond. Last year alone, our local organization served over 27,000 meals to those in need within the Greater Lynchburg region and supplied 628 individuals with more than 14,000 nights of shelter within their Center of Hope.

This mission of care exists for our local Lynchburg families and is made possible from gratitude, volunteers, and generous donations from the caring citizens of our local community.

Donations collected during the holiday season not only help The Salvation Army of Lynchburg to provide gifts for children who would otherwise go without, but they also help supply food, shelter, and utility aid to those who need it most every day of the year.

"In addition to helping assure every child feels the joy of Christmas morning, we're committed to serving our community 365 days a year," says Caleb Prieto, Major for The Salvation Army of Greater Lynchburg. "When people are in need, The Salvation Army is often their first source of help."

Caring citizens along with The Salvation Army of Lynchburg can play a vital role in ensuring that every child in Lynchburg experiences the joy of Christmas.

The Angel Tree program, combined with the Red Kettle Campaign, stands as one of The Salvation Army of Lynchburg’s prominent Christmas initiatives. Each year, it extends its impact to around 1,200 children in the Lynchburg area contributing clothing and toys to children living in Appomattox, Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, and Nelson counties, as well as the city of Lynchburg.

This initiative serves as a lifeline, offering toys and clothing to children, seniors, and families facing financial hardships. Angels, symbolizing those in need, are made available for adoption by compassionate Lynchburg members and businesses.

Tammy Shank, Regional Resource Development Director for The Salvation Army, said for the children taking part in the Angel Tree program, these are the only gifts they will have under the tree this year.

Shank emphasized, "By having this program, one of the things we can do is provide hope. Regardless of their current circumstances, waking up on Christmas morning to discover toys under the tree has a profound impact. It creates a lasting and cherished memory, offering children something dear to hold onto for years to come."

A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS

When 4-year-old Tinas parents split up right before Christmas, she went to live with her grandmother. Her grandmother lived on a very tight fixed income and did not know how she would support her granddaughter. She could not even afford enough extra food to fix a special Christmas dinner. That is when she asked The Salvation Army for help.

Through gifts of support, The Salvation Army provided Tina’s caring grandmother with a bag of groceries, including the fixings for a special holiday meal. The Salvation Army were even able to supply a few presents for Tina, including a doll and a pretty sweater. Thanks to generous donations from caring people in the community, The Salvation Army could make Christmas special for a hurting little girl.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

To donate to the salvation army of greater lynchburg online click here or scan the QR code below. To adopt an angel please call (434) 845-5939.