Red Kettle Campaign Raises Funds for COVID-Relief!
The Salvation Army’s 130th Red Kettle Campaign Raises Much Needed Funds for COVID-Relief Programs
Donations Down, but Help with Programs During the Holidays and All Year Long
San Francisco, CA (February 16, 2021) –This year’s Red Kettle Campaign collected almost $130,000 thanks to the support of donors who helped The Salvation Army “Rescue Christmas.” A little less than half of the total ($60,000) was raised online through The Salvation Army’s virtual red kettle, new this year. Last year, the Army raised nearly $191,00 in its iconic Red Kettles. The donations raised, will help The Salvation Army provide COVID-related services to those in need in San Francisco throughout the year.
“The Salvation Army is humbled by the support we received from our donors who demonstrated their trust in The Salvation Army’s effectiveness in continuing its mission to serve those in need through donating their hard-earned dollars in our kettles and online during these challenging times,” said Major Matthew Madsen, Divisional Secretary for The Salvation Army in San Francisco. “As expected, fundraising via traditional kettles was down, but the new virtual kettles helped make up some of the difference. Thanks to our tech-savvy donors in San Francisco for embracing this new way to donate online!”
The Salvation Army continues to serve San Francisco’s most vulnerable in the following ways.
Homeless Outreach at Safe Sleeping Sites:
The Salvation Army continues to deliver weekly meals (lunch and dinner) to the unhoused at the Safe Sleeping Sites at the Civic Center, Gough and Market, and Haight Ashbury neighborhoods. In addition, they deliver meals to the vehicle triage center in the Ingleside neighborhood at San Jose and Geneva Avenues. Nearly 300,000 meals were delivered to the homeless in 2020 to the safe sleeping sites and in camps across San Francisco.
The Salvation Army has been supporting the local San Francisco food vendor economy by partnering with these local nonprofits to help counter food insecurity. So far, The Salvation Army has funneled nearly $420,000 into the San Francisco economy.
- SoMa StrEat Food: Since May 2020, SoMa Streat Food vendors, Roadside Rotisserie and Kabob Trolley, have been providing a rotation of meals on the weekends. To date, they have provided nearly 30,000 meals. SoMa Streat Food operates three food truck parks and beer gardens in San Francisco, SPARK Social SF, Parklab Gardens and SoMa StrEat Food Park.
- La Cocina: Since November 30, 2020, La Cocina-born businesses, such as Peaches Patties and Boug Cali, have been providing meals during the week. To date, they have served nearly 30,000 meals. La Cocina is working to solve problems of equity in business ownership for women, immigrants and the BIPOC community.
The Salvation Army continues to house 700 people every night, through its residential, transitional living and adult rehabilitation programs and continues to serve San Francisco at its community centers in the following ways. In all of the programs and services, the Army is following the recommendations set forth by the CDC, HUD and local health and government officials to keep its facilities, employees and those it serves safe.
The Salvation Army Kroc Center and Railton Place: 240 Turk Street, San Francisco, CA
- The Salvation Army Kroc Center
- Friday Food Pantry – 8:00 – 9:30 am
- Community Learning Hub – Monday-Friday, 8:30 am- 5:00 pm
- Virtual learning – Monday -Thursday - 2:00 pm -7:00 pm
- Railton Place
- Continue to provide housing for its residents at the 110 unit transitional and permanent housing residence.
- South of Market Corps Community Center: 360 4th St, San Francisco, CA
- Friday Food Pantry – 8:00 am to 9:00 am
- Mission Location: 1156 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA.
- Thursday Food Pantry – 9:00-10:00 am.
- The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center: 1500 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA.
- Continue to provide residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation services to more than 112 men.
- The Salvation Army Harbor Light Center: 1275 Harrison St., San Francisco, CA
- Operations are normal for serving substance abuse treatment programs & family shelter.
About The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army has been supporting those in need without discrimination for more than 135 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 The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org. For more information about The Salvation Army activities in San Francisco and Central California, visit www.sanfrancisco.salvationarmy.org or www.goldenstate.salvationarmy.org.
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