COLUMBUS, Ohio — The holiday season is quickly approaching and those Salvation Army red kettlebells will be ringing. While Christmas is its biggest season for giving, the need lasts all year.
WBNS-10TV is hosting a phone bank for the Salvation Army and 100% of the proceeds will go to local families in need. You can call 614-696-9990 or text NEED to 31333. The 10TV and Salvation Army Need Knows No Season Day of Giving runs from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Last year, Yael Israel and her family were staying with family and friends, and in hotels. The family of five was doing everything they could to stay together.
“It was the end of the rope, you know when you’ve reached it. You’re done, you’re tired of getting help from everyone else,” she said.
Israel’s last option was the Salvation Army Hotline, which was a tough call to make. One of her main concerns with contacting shelters was that her family would be split up, something she wasn’t willing to risk.
“At first, you don’t feel a sense of dread and you’re like, ‘I don’t want to do it.’ But then you feel a sense of relief once they say ‘Yes, we have somewhere we can take you. Yes, it’s somewhere that is safe. Yes, your whole family gets to stay together',.” Israel said.
Israel’s family case manager Andrew Foltz assured the entire family he would do his best to keep them together. They were his first case at the Salvation Army and he felt connected, helping them every step of the way.
“They were my first family to interact with, so of course I was kind of nervous at first about how the process went and all that. But after hearing their story, I was just passionate about getting them from the shelter to their own place,” Foltz said.
The entire Israel family is now living in their own home, holding down regular jobs and appreciating the little things.
“I have a vacuum, which I never thought of. But it helps,” Israel said.
The Salvation Army helped more than 2,000 families get housing assistance in 2022. The organization’s “Need Knows No Season” campaign helps make sure those who reach out to them all year long are able to get the help they need – whether it be housing, food assistance or utilities.
Israel knows what it feels like to be in that position and feels a sense of shame when asking for help.
“Don’t sit there [and] wait. Don’t keep making up excuses, do it! It’s not just for you, it’s also for your kids and just like us, in a year, you’ll be right where we are,” Israel said.
On Thursday, Oct. 19, WBNS-10TV is hosting a phone bank for the Salvation Army and 100% of the proceeds will go to local families in need.
The 10TV and Salvation Army Need Knows No Season Day of Giving runs from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
How to donate
- SalvationArmyNeedKnowsNoSeason.org
- Text to Give: NEED to 31333
- Phone Bank #: 614-696-9990
Your gift will help provide food, clothing, rent, and utility assistance to more than 50,000 men, women and families this year. Many are seeking assistance for the first time.
How far your donation can go:
- $25 provides 21 meals through food pantries
- $50 provides two people with a warm and safe place to sleep for a night
- $100 helps provide a child’s healthy meals for more than a week
- $150 provides 35 children with a nutritious snack in The Salvation Army’s after-school or summer learning center for one week
- $250 provides housing for an individual for more than a week
- $500 provides a month of meals for a family of four