Salvation Army, Walmart team up the help 'rescue Christmas'

To help meet the unprecedented level of need this holiday season, Walmart and The Salvation Army of Findlay are working together to make it easier for community members to help others. Building upon a 40-year relationship of supporting people in need during the holiday season, Walmart and The Salvation Army are expanding programs like Angel Tree and red kettles, which will be out earlier. For the first time ever, round-up donations to The Salvation Army will be offered in-store and online. "The Salvation Army has been helping families for generations, especially during the holidays. This year, however, with an increase in the number of folks still unemployed and struggling due to the affects of the pandemic, the need is so much greater," said Major Mike Morales with the Findlay Salvation Army. In Findlay, The Salvation Army has seen a 25% increase in the number of people served since March, when cases of COVID-19 began to spread, Morales said. "If we see the same level of increased requests for service, that would mean even more people will need our help this holiday season," he said. In most Walmart stores across Ohio, the expanded partnership includes: • An option for customers to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar and donate the difference to The Salvation Army. Customers can do this in stores at manned cash registers, on Walmart.com or through the store app. The option to donate will run through Dec. 31. • The Salvation Army's Red Kettles and iconic bell ringers will be at participating Walmart stores even earlier this year, starting on Saturday. The Salvation Army is adopting national and local mandated safety protocols for physical kettles to help ensure the safety of bell ringers, donors and partners. • Salvation Army Angel Trees will appear in participating Walmart stores, giving local shoppers the opportunity to select a child or children from the tree and to purchase or drop off gifts onsite. • Those who prefer to do their shopping online can visit salvationarmyusa.org/walmart-angel-tree to find their closest Angel Tree Registry, either in-store or online. Through the site, customers can shop for gifts and have them delivered directly to a local Salvation Army. • Celebrities like DJ Khaled have taken up the #RescueChristmas Challenge, encouraging others to adopt an angel from The Salvation Army Angel Tree program in their hometown. Visit SalvationArmyOhio.org to donate or to request services from the agency.