Bloomington Leader

The Salvation Army is seeking donations and volunteers to help other people this holiday season.

The Salvation Army "brightens the holiday season" for people in need through a number of programs, the organization said.

"Millions of American parents cannot afford to buy their kids Christmas presents," according to an unnamed Army official. "The holidays bring added financial and emotional stress to families living in poverty."

The Salvation Army helps through several programs:

Red kettles: Donations to the buckets help support services in your neighborhood.

"Bell ringers are both seasonal employees and volunteers," the Salvation Army noted on its website. "Learn more about bell ringing or register to ring now. From Oct. 1 to Jan. 31, join the fight for good by donating through our online red kettle."

Angel tree: Donations can help the Army purchase gifts and clothes for families in need.

"When you're struggling financially to care for your family, holiday gifts are often not feasible," the Salvation Army said.

Holiday meals: The Salvation Army "provides Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for families unable to create a special meal themselves," according to its website. "We host homemade dinners at our facility and provide a Christmas dinner box to struggling families. Each box feeds a family of six and includes meat, potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, biscuits, cake mix, and more."

The organization also accepts donations, including airline miles, used cars, and goods for the Salvation Army store.

"We want you to feel confident that we are making the best use of the resources you've given to The Salvation Army," the organization said. "We pride ourselves on minimizing costs to maintain a high percentage of donations that directly flow into programs - 88 cents per dollar (the national average is 82 cents per dollar). When you designate your donation to a disaster through The Salvation Army, 100% of your gift will be used in support of those disaster relief efforts."