The Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region

CHRISTMAS 2020 REPORT THANK YOU to so many who helped make Christmas 2020 a great success amidst a plethora of dodges, weaves, blizzards and pivots. So here's what you made possible: 6,475 total people assisted including 4,319 children who received new toys and clothing... 28,030 new toys, gifts and clothing items donated for kids, a 27% increase from last year. Wow! 167 seniors "adopted," provided with meals and necessities Gift bags prepared and delivered to 2,500 seniors in 17 different nursing homes and senior housing complexes 6 onsite, outside, curbside distribution events with a maze of cones and checkpoints that required Harrisburg City Police and Flagger Force to conceive and staff (and it worked like a charm...total wait time less than 16 minutes...no back up onto the street, the goal) 451 volunteers donated 1,637 hours to make it happen Over 2,000 Bibles distributed These results are simply amazing given the complete and total revamp of how we "do Christmas" while our "regular programs" were serving triple the number of people than normal. In November, we sent out an "SOS" sharing how fewer than 1,000 Angel Tree tags had been requested (for 4,000 kids) and things looked very bleak. At the time, we were tempted to cut off new assistance applications altogether. Instead, we started a wait list, hoping and praying for the best. And you responded. BIG TIME. In fact, we were able to provide new toys and clothing for Every. Single. One. of the 693 kids who had been "wait listed." We were also able to help partners like Harrisburg City Police who sought our assistance for some kids in difficult situations who would have flown under the radar otherwise. My job this Christmas was "Stop 1" on the drive through route, welcoming guests, confirming they were here on the right day for the right thing (not always the case :). It was very humbling. There were those who walked. Some drove cars held together by duct tape (more than one window or car door didn't work). Those who came in cabs or got a ride with someone who was less than kind and patient (I resisted the urge to share helpful insights with said drivers. My tongue still hurts). There were those who had trouble communicating. Those who were frazzled and overwhelmed. Those who were embarrassed or even apologized. But the most common interaction? Expressions of profound gratitude from parents and grandparents who were at TSA simply because they love their kids. Some of those kids were even in the cars. They just stared, smiled and/or waved (check point #2...the candy stop...was more exciting to them than a person with a clipboard :) Those parents and kids are why we "do Christmas." On their behalf, thank you. You rock. If you had friends, coworkers or family members who volunteered or provided donations, please share this email with them because they also rock. Sincerely, Kathy Anderson-Martin Director of Resource Development

Our office is closed today in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will reopen tomorrow at 8:00am.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 113:3 An early morning sunrise blanketing our building on this Friday. God is good!

A few years ago, Jake was referred to our office by a friend. Jake was earning $12/hour. He had $13,000 in credit card debt. His monthly expenses were $500 more than he earned (not good). His credit score was 500 (and that might be generous). Things were headed in a very bad direction for Jake. He dreamed of buying his own home someday. But he didn't have a clue about what to do today, much less the pipe dream prospect of home ownership. So Jake entered our HAVE self-sufficie...ncy mentoring program. He agreed to track his spending to stabilize income, pay down debt, reduce expenses (that was the hardest part) and be held accountable for doing so. In return, TSA provided Jake with a donated computer with budgeting software and a caring case manager who regularly met with Jake to set and review goals and action steps, one credit card payment and budget worksheet at a time. In year one, Jake reduced his debt by $3k. In year 2, another $5k. He reduced his expenses so they were less than what he earned (that's a wacky concept isn't it?). He worked hard and was rewarded with pay raises, earning $15/hour. As he paid off credit cards, his credit score increased. And so on. And so on. Now it's 2021, and Jake will be enjoying the new year in his own home, purchased with his hard earned money! Actually, Jake is the 5th client in our self-sufficiency program to go from homelessness/verge of homelessness to homeowner and budget manager. Only 5 homeowners you say? Well, did you know the average cost to society for one homeless person is $35,578 a year? So basically The Salvation Army Hbg, Jake and 4 other TSA self-sufficiency program graduates will save taxpayers $177,890 this year AND be paying property taxes to benefit the schools our kids/grandkids attend. You're welcome Sometimes the things we do at TSA Hbg meet an immediate need. Sometimes, the desired outcome takes a bit longer. But the ROI (return on investment) is worth it! As Major Griner constantly reminds our staff, and we remind friends like Jake, "do the next right thing and God will honor it." Have a great day.

The Family Table presents "Healthy At Home" classes during the day or evening. Join them once a week via Zoom for four (4) weeks of classes led by nutrition professionals. Learn how to eat for your lifestyle and health by preparing delicious, affordable, healthy meals. Classes are available in both English and Spanish. English Class Sign Ups: bit.ly/TSAhealthyathome Spanish Class Sign Ups: bit.ly/TSAhealthyathomeSP

Our offices have closed today (Thursday, December 31, 2020) at noon for the remainder of 2020. We will open again on Monday, January 4, 2021 at 8:00am. From our entire staff - Happy New Year!

Thank you to HM Insurance Group for the year-end gift to assist with our ongoing emergency services response. We appreciate your partnership and support. Pictured in the photo are: Krista G. Maddigan, VP Regulatory Affairs & Compliance for HM Insurance Group and Kathy Anderson-Martin, Director of Resource Development at The Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region.

Our office will close today at noon and will reopen on Monday, December 28 at 8:00am. From our entire staff - we wish you many, many blessings this Christmas. May you feel Christ's love. Merry Christmas!

Special thanks to The Insurance Alliance Network for being recognized by Tuscarora Wayne Insurance Company as a top-performing agency in 2020. As part of the recognition, the Tuscarora Wayne Mutual Foundation made a contribution to us in their honor. Jane Koppenheffer, President of The Insurance Alliance Network, presented the check to Kathy Anderson-Martin, Director of Resource Development.

Harrisburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. did a gift collection for us. They provided 192 items and 27 gift cards! We thank them for their partnership and for blessing our community with their generosity. Thank you to ALL who donated to us as well this year.

On Friday, we received a $50,000 check from Penn Waste, KBS Trucking and The Scott & Tracy Wagner Family Foundation to help support our Christmas campaign. "COVID-19 has had a lasting impact on our community and we're so thankful for organizations like the Salvation Army to help those in need." Thank you so very much for your support. We cannot do what we do without people and businesses like you. Merry Christmas!

Last Friday, we accomplished Christmas distribution Round 1 (1,000 kids). It was outside (because of the pandemic). It went exceedingly well. It went so well, Jenny said, "we should do this outside every year." It was also sunny and 57 degrees and our jackets were lying in the grass at times. Yesterday, we did the "Adopt-A-Family" distribution. Good, but colder. And today, we are set for round 3, with over 1,000 boxes to distribute. Little problem. A suggestion of some snow i...n the forecast. Maybe A LOT of snow. So, our plan is to try and do half. At least until noon or until the snow is too blinding. Then we have to figure out how to fit the 500 we can't do today into next week, when Round 3 of another 1,000 is already scheduled. Of course, swarms of locusts may arrive next week. Then we'll go to Plan R (that's how far we are into the plans....way past B and C). So please keep us in your prayers today. Thank you so much to those intrepid warriors who've been out to help with Christmas and all the "normal" stuff, like food rescue and distribution and youth programs, that continue. Thank you to those who donated gifts. We were struggling, and now we have an abundance to share! And if you feel bad about us standing outside in the snow, pushing carts of heavy boxes, barefoot and cold, feel free to donate now. As an unabashed disclaimer, yes this is a total and complete "Pity Donation" appeal because the Red Kettles are bombing and you only get so many blizzards during an outdoor Christmas distribution to do that Happy Hump Day! (NOTE: We won't actually be barefoot. All the staff and volunteers have appropriate footwear. That was just for dramatic effect. But every teenager will be receiving a new shoe voucher in their Christmas box, thanks to you Shoe Strut fans!). Christmas doesn’t stop and neither do we!