For many people, the Salvation Army is most visible in the weeks leading up to Christmas because of the annual Red Kettle campaign — but the organization serves the community year-round.
Maj. Dean Hinson, area commander of the Salvation Army of Northeast Florida, said last year more than 300,000 people received more than 740,000 service days from the organization. Services include transitional housing, meals, cold-night shelter and counseling.
Hinson's parents were officers in the Salvation Army. His family's service stretches back five generations on his mother's side and one of Hinson's sons is a Salvation Army officer.
"As a teenager, I felt the Salvation Army was God's calling in my life," said Hinson.
He and his wife, Pam, served in Portsmouth, Va., Roanoke, Va., Lakeland and Clearwater before being assigned area commanders in North Florida. Pam also is a Salvation Army major who heads the organization's Women's Auxiliary.
The Hinsons have been leaders or instructors for 11 Holy Land Educational Tours for Salvation Army officers. They also established and led for three years the organization's overseas educational tour to Turkey, Greece and Rome.
The local Salvation Army has an annual budget of a little more than $10 million and a staff of about 100 people, plus volunteers. It provides services in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties.
Hinson said about 900 families received Thanksgiving boxes Tuesday containing a turkey and all the trimmings for a traditional meal.
Thursday will be a busy day at the Salvation Army's Towers Social Services Center and Red Shield Lodge at 900 W. Adams St.
"We will feed anyone who needs a meal on Thanksgiving Day," said Hinson. He estimated that as many as 600 people will receive a holiday meal at the center.
In addition to meal programs, the Salvation Army conducts the annual Angel Tree gift drive, which collects Christmas gifts for more than 4,000 children in Duval County alone, said Hinson.
The organization also operates a child care and development center Downtown at 318 N. Ocean St.
To learn more about the organization's programs and ways to contribute, visit salvationarmynefl.org or call (904) 301-4875.
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