Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Natasha Letcher, Development Director, and Major Geffory Crowell of the Salvation Army in Sioux Falls about their annual fundraising for families and children in need.

You can earn $15.00 an hour as a bell ringer.  Registertoring.com

This year's goal is over $350,000   https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/

from their website: https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/siouxfalls

Experts agree that there is no single root cause of all poverty.

Rather, a variety of factors, including hunger, addiction, homelessness, mental illness, unemployment, lack of education, abuse, human trafficking, discrimination and social inequality, can lead to poverty and contribute to its continuation. That's why The Salvation Army offers both short- and long-term assistance and solutions that address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals and families in order to alleviate the immediate effects of poverty and address the root issues that cause it.

 Pathway of Hope

We strive to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty through the Pathway of Hope initiative, offering strengths-based casework to families with children 18 years of age and younger. Services provided include financial counseling and planning, job training and referrals, assistance with housing, and spiritual support. Pathway of Hope works with people where they are, offering practical guidance to help families overcome obstacles and achieve their big-picture goals, one step at a time.

 Material assistance

Often it's the smallest things that make the biggest difference: a fan to bring cool relief on a hot day, help paying the electric bill so there's enough money for groceries, or a backpack filled with school supplies so a child is prepared for school. Our material assistance programs provide groceries, clothing and household items, assistance paying for prescription medications and utilities, fans, backpacks and school supplies, and Christmas meal assistance.

 Food

Chances are, you know someone who is struggling to put food on the table. Thousands of adults and children in Nebraska, South Dakota and western Iowa are food insecure and don't know where to find their next meal. We address this critical problem by offering multiple food services, including food pantries, lunch and dinnertime community meals, mobile food distribution, and summer lunch programs for school-age children.

 Housing

As the saying goes, there's no place like home, but sadly, thousands of displaced families, older adults and veterans in our three-state region are not able to enjoy that basic need. We help those without a home climb out of poverty through permanent supportive housing, transitional housing and emergency shelter, ensuring that adults and children have a safe place to live, grow and thrive.