Love’s Army bolstered hearts and minds | Salvation Army 2020 COVID Impact Report

Love’s Army is shining hope in the darkness.

As one supporter put it, “The Salvation Army is a church with its sleeves rolled up.” Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name, without discrimination.As one supporter put it, “The Salvation Army is a church with its sleeves rolled up.” Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name, without discrimination.

When all activities in her senior center came to a halt, a lonely woman called a Salvation Army worker at the Hope Hotline. For 30 minutes, they discussed family, hobbies, and a mutual love of game shows. And after they prayed together, the woman began to feel a sense of joy and relief again.When all activities in her senior center came to a halt, a lonely woman called a Salvation Army worker at the Hope Hotline. For 30 minutes, they discussed family, hobbies, and a mutual love of game shows. And after they prayed together, the woman began to feel a sense of joy and relief again.

The Salvation Army provided more than
900,000 people
emotional and spiritual care in 2020.

The Salvation Army has provided relief in the wake of every natural disaster in America since 1900. But few events in our history have had as widespread an impact as COVID-19. One survey estimates that 44% of Americans would say their lives have been “affected in a major way” by the outbreak. With the significant loss of life, as well as the countless individuals affected by illness, unemployment, and shutdowns, the emotional and spiritual toll has been staggering.

But at The Salvation Army, we are armed with hope. In addition to meeting the physical needs of our neighbors, we continue to provide for their emotional and spiritual needs.

“We just try to do everything we can to help feed them physically and spiritually. All we can do is be here for people. We always tell them, ‘It’s not a handout; it’s a hand up.’ We’re here, neighbors helping neighbors, and that’s how we look at it,” said Lieutenant Christopher West.

In the first few months of the health crisis, we also helped thousands of people via our Hope Hotline. We reached out to the elderly and shut-ins who needed the warmth of a caring heart. And we found new ways to foster hope in a time of great hopelessness.