Salvation Army Seeks Donations Through Christmas In July Campaign

The Salvation Army of Rome has seen lower than normal summer donations, despite the increased need for services during the hottest part of the year.

Maj. Hank Harwell saw that summer is a hard season for families and people in need, with the high temperatures and kids being at home, and began the Christmas in July campaign.

The nonprofit is best known for its fundraising during Christmas, when volunteers stand outside supermarkets with kettles and ring bells to collect donations. This tradition has become a staple of the holiday.

After the winter holidays pass, the Salvation Army may leave the storefronts, but it is still working in the community, Harwell said — helping the needy and relying on local donations to operate.

In June, the Salvation Army Rome Corps reported serving over 201 people. Of those served, the nonprofit provided 1,232 hot meals and 75 grocery orders, helped pay five mortgages and five utility bills and provided shelter to 193 people.

It costs the nonprofit $62.02 per day to provide shelter and $3.98 to provide a hot meal.

The hot summer months are hard for the needy, Harwell said, so it’s important to have these funds available.

To help combat the heat, the nonprofit leaves out cold water bottles for anyone and has a shelter to keep people cool. The Salvation Army’s shelter can hold 10 men and five women.

They’re hoping the Christmas in July campaign will increase visibility and funds while reminding everyone that “the Salvation Army is here all year round.”

The campaign started at the beginning of July and will run until the end of the month. Those interested can help by becoming sponsors, hosting a Virtual Red Kettle — an online donation event — on their social media platforms, or letting the nonprofit place a kettle at their business’s front desk. The Salvation Army will come by once a week to collect the donations from the kettles placed throughout the community.

The funds are returned to the community through the nonprofit’s work, Harwell said. The donations are used to fund the nonprofit’s services, which include helping people pay their bills, operating a shelter in Rome, providing food to the needy, and helping people in the community however they can.

As a part of the services they provide, the Salvation Army is also holding a weeklong summer camp. It’s an overnight camp taking place this week where kids can swim, play, and enjoy the summer in a safe environment. The kids can participate in different activities like art and crafts and board games.

Harwell said that this year’s camp brought in kids from different parts of Georgia. The camp gives kids a fun summer experience and their caregivers a break.

Services from the Salvation Army don’t always look the same but they still help the community. Harwell started this campaign as a way to bring awareness to the nonprofit and remind the community of the services they provide.

For more information on the July campaign contact hank.harwell@uss.salvationarmy.org . People looking to receive help from the Salvation Army can call the organization at 706-291-4745.