The Salvation Army and Walmart are joining forces to help families in need this holiday season. On Saturday, Nov. 9, at participating Walmart stores nationwide, The Salvation Army will collect toys to be distributed to children in the community. 

“Each year, The Salvation Army relies on the generosity of volunteers and community members to ensure that approximately 3 million people around the country have the chance to open a toy on Christmas morning or eat a warm meal on Christmas Day,” said Lt. Col. Ward Matthews, national spokesperson for The Salvation Army. “By providing toys, The Salvation Army and its supporters ease the financial burden parents experience during the holidays, enabling many children to receive gifts they otherwise wouldn’t.” 

At collection sites and online, The Salvation Army will provide a list of suggested items to help fill the toy-drive boxes at the front of Walmart stores. Santa will also be making visits to Walmart stores on the same day – adding an air of excitement and Christmas cheer to customers’ shopping experience in stores.

Walmart and The Salvation Army have collaborated for more than 30 years in an effort to meet local community needs. Supporters like Walmart help The Salvation Army serve more than 23 million Americans each year through a range of social services, helping them overcome poverty and economic hardships.

All toys given at the drives will remain in the local community and will help The Salvation Army provide Christmas gifts to millions of children in need. In addition, local Salvation Army teams around the country will host online toy registries at Walmart.com.

To learn more and find out how you can get involved with your local Salvation Army, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.

Note: Media will be restricted to the parking lots and will not be allowed inside stores.

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army annually helps more than 23 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operations around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter: @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 135 years in the United States. Approximately 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: 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 donated to The Salvation Army is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). For more information, go to salvationarmyusa.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.

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