To the editor:
Dearest Lynn and surrounding area community,
It is with deepest appreciation that The Salvation Army writes to thank you for your support and donations this holiday season. After such a hard year, and with so many struggling to get by financially, we declare that through the kindness in this community, hope marches on.
We, along with our small team of staff and volunteers, are privileged to serve this beautiful community. Yet we know we could do nothing without your support and financial help.
The holidays are our busiest time because we are desperately striving to meet the various needs of the community, and we are conducting our biggest fundraising campaign of the year. The red-kettle campaign dates back more than 115 years in our history.
All of the funds raised in the kettles remain local and represent our main source of income for the fiscal year. This year, we raised $94,649.16.
Those funds will support our programs and services that directly benefit the community such as our food pantry, social services, emergency-disaster services and SmART Center After School Program.
Whether you put in your spare change as you walked by our red kettles and heard the bells or you sent in a check, we thank you. Our goal was to raise $100,000 after reaching $105,724.87 last year. We are under what we projected and we are still in need, so future donations are welcomed.
While conducting that campaign we were also busy meeting the main mission of The Salvation Army, which is “meeting human needs without discrimination.” This year we gave out turkeys, hams or gift cards to more than 1,300 families.
In addition, our regular food pantry remained open. In just the months of November and December — during the three days a week we were open — we served 48,380 meals. We thank all those who did food drives and donated food. With the supply and demand limitations, donations from the community have been very helpful.
Lastly, we want to thank Essex Media Group, The Daily Item of Lynn, and Steve Krause for their partnership again this year. The Item Santa program is a unique partnership that continues to work well each year because of the kindness of this community and the commitment of The Item.
This year the need was incredible. The cost of toys was higher and the COVID protocols were difficult. However, we were able to help 1,450 kids (640 families) receive toys. Six thousand toys were given to children in need. Many did toy drives, shopped for families or donated directly to Item Santa. Thank you for your continued support.
We believe that we are not just giving turkeys, canned goods and toys, but spreading hope. In these difficult days, donating has become a way we can share kindness and love. On behalf of all who did not go without and were given hope this holiday, we thank you.
Capts. Helen and Kevin Johnson
The Salvation Army Lynn
