THE SALVATION ARMY DONORS CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN
$3 MILLION TO TREE OF LIGHTS CAMPAIGN
With gratitude to the community, the Omaha Salvation Army announces that the 2011 Tree of Lights Campaign raised more than $3 million, thanks to the generosity of Omaha area residents. A total of $3,008,982 was raised. All proceeds benefit those in need during the Christmas season and year-round.
The 2011 Tree of Lights Campaign leadership included: Honorary Chairmen, Hal & Mary Daub, Hal is a Partner of Husch Blackwell LLP; Honorary Vice-Chairman, Connie Ryan, President, Streck, Inc.; General Chairman, Tim Harrison, President of Harrison Financial Services & Northwestern Mutual Financial Network; General Vice-Chairman, Joe Kavan, Partner - Kutak Rock; and Major Paul D. Smith, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army Western Division.
Hal Daub said, "All non profits have faced large increases in demands for their services in these economically strained times, and for the second year in a row, the citizens in the greater Omaha area made that extra effort topping the $3 million mark. Mary and I are personally grateful for all the support given to the Army to meet these critical human needs."
Contributions to the Tree of Lights Campaign enable The Salvation Army to operate more than 20 social service programs that provide meals, shelter, education, counseling and support to children, the elderly and the homeless. More than 24,000 people were served through a variety of Christmas assistance programs in 2011.
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SALVATION ARMY WINTER NIGHT WATCH EXPANDS IN ITS 23rd YEAR
For 23 years, The Salvation Army's Winter Night Watch program has helped make cold winter nights bearable for the homeless and near-homeless of Omaha. The mobile feeding program will make its first run of the season on Thursday evening, December 1, departing at 6:00 pm from the Lied Renaissance Center, 3612 Cuming Street. Winter Night Watch takes aid directly to the streets, providing low income and often homeless people with a hot meal and warm clothing. While the program meets the immediate physical needs of people, it also offers individuals counseling and the opportunity to move off the streets.
The Salvation Army expects to feed as many as 400 individuals per night at the height of the season. Last winter, Winter Night Watch served more than 16,500 meals and distributed over 8,000 coats, hats, gloves and scarves. This year Army officials expect those numbers to increase as a result of a soft economy and the expansion into South Omaha three days a week.
A Salvation Army canteen will patrol the streets of Omaha five nights a week (Monday-Friday), 6:00-9:00 p.m., from December 1 through the month of February, 2012. The canteen makes stops in multiple locations in downtown and central Omaha where the homeless and near-homeless gather each evening. The second canteen will patrol the streets of South Omaha three nights a week (Monday, Wednesday & Friday) from 6:00-9:00 pm. It will stop at various locations including 24th & N Streets and 30th & Q Streets.
Monetary donations are needed to purchase food, fuel and paper products. Donations can be made online at www.givesalvationarmy.org or mailed to The Salvation Army, 3612 Cuming St., Omaha, NE 68131, earmarked "Winter Night Watch." Contributions to the red kettle also support Winter Night Watch.
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The Salvation Army Lied Renaissance Center
Omaha, Nebraska
The Salvation Army in Omaha, Nebraska has an established history of providing high quality comprehensive care to people needing assistance in the Omaha area. The Salvation Army operates a multi-service campus located at 3612 Cuming Street, providing a variety of services to individuals and families across all life stages and circumstances. This facility is unique in the nation in terms of the variety of diverse programming offered on-site: including child and youth care, material assistance, case management and community outreach, senior services and spiritual care if requested. The Lied Renaissance Center campus is a micro-community with more than 200 people living on the campus on any given day. Such an array of residential care and services provide unparalled access within a holistic, integrated, and caring community environment. Below are some of the faces that have travelled through one of our programs.
The Salvation Army is the largest social service agency in the metropolitan area. It encompasses more than 20 programs that provide low-income people with food, shelter, clothing, disaster relief and counseling. The Salvation Army has served the state of Nebraska since 1888 and the city of Omaha since 1897.
About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.