Christmas Services
The Salvation Army has been working to provide Christmas for families in need in the Charlotte community since 1905.
In 2009 we saw a record 250 families per day registering for Christmas assistance, a 25% increase from 2008.
The Salvation Army Christmas Center registers families from Mecklenburg and Union counties for Christmas Assistance each fall. Families of all kinds register for assistance. Many are single moms and dads, working hard to simply try to provide for their family. Some are children who live with grandparents, relatives, or caregivers. Others are unemployed parents, struggling to stay financially afloat. We also register senior citizens who are desperately stretching every penny they have.
Times have certainly changed since our first Christmas but we are still the first call for families in need of assistance. Each year The Salvation Army seeks to bring the real spirit of Christmas to families through a variety of programs.
The Christmas Bureau
Since 1979, The Christmas Bureau has existed as a joint effort between The Charlotte Observer’s Empty Stocking Fund, Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services, The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and The United Way of Central Carolinas, Inc. Together, we serve as a clearinghouse for those in need and those seeking to help others during the Christmas season.
Angel Tree
The Fox Charlotte/Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program touched the lives of more than 11,000 children in Charlotte last year, providing them with new clothing, shoes, and toys.
Each year The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary sponsors stockings for more than 17,000 children in the Angel Tree program with a Christmas stocking. Community groups assist with contributions to fill the stockings.
Silver Bells
The Silver Bells program helps senior citizens age 60 and older by providing them with new clothing, shoes, toiletries, and other items that a fixed income cannot provide.