With Christmas and New Year’s now over, The Salvation Army is asking Texans to continue giving to those in need.
Major Paul McFarland, the area commander of The Salvation Army of North Texas, told The Waxahachie Sun that despite challenges seen in 2022, North Texans continued to give.
“The year has been filled with turbulent economic factors caused by the lasting effects of the pandemic. We knew 2022 would be challenging for millions of Americans, but the generosity of North Texans has not wavered. We are grateful for the generosity of our donors and partners who have offered support to The Salvation Army this holiday season,” McFarland said.
From 2021 to 2022, the average number of bags of food distributed each month by the Waxahachie Corps Community Center’s food pantry increased from around 100 to around 500. The Salvation Army’s five Dallas County locations all saw an increase in those utilizing food pantries for the first time in 2022.
The emergency shelter at the Carr P. Collins Social Service Center also saw an increase in the average length of clients’ stays, The Waxahachie Sun reported. Compared to the same time last year, the average was longer by 10 days.
The Salvation Army has 17 centers of operation in the region, according to a December press release from the organization, and feeds around 10,000 North Texans every week. It has a network of three recovery programs, six shelters, and 12 food pantries.
“Thousands of North Texans are facing greater hardship than ever before with the impacts of inflation, rising evictions, and lingering effects of the pandemic,” the press release shared. “Our most vulnerable neighbors are living in survival mode and having to make tough choices on how to stretch their already tight household budgets.”
In addition to services such as those mentioned above, The Salvation Army of North Texas provides job training, assistance with treating drug and alcohol addiction, and other initiatives aimed at breaking cycles of poverty and dependency.
Any gifts and donations made stay in the same community in which they were made, according to the organization. The Salvation Army of North Texas operates in Dallas, Denton, Collin, Tarrant, Ellis, and Rockwall counties.
Texans are able to give to the organization by donating money, cryptocurrency, clothing, goods, and vehicles. Those who want to help by donating their time can volunteer throughout the year.