Helping the Helpers

When it didn’t look like The Salvation Army in Washington, Pa., would meet its kettle goal this past Christmas, Captain Jason Imhoff made a bold prediction.

“It may not end up in the bucket, but God will provide what we need,” he told his wife, Captain Amber Imhoff.

Then, the night before the church’s Christmas toy distribution, an apartment fire displaced 52 people in Washington. The Salvation Army spent about $30,000 housing the victims in a local hotel.

After an article appeared in the local newspaper highlighting the kettle shortfall, Captain Amber got a call from the Washington County Community Foundation. Amber discovered that the foundation was donating $50,000 to The Salvation Army—enough to cover both the kettle deficit and the housing of the fire victims.

Her response was, ‘You are the hands and feet to our prayer.’

 

The Salvation Army in Washington is there all year long. The Army helped more than 1,600 children at Christmas and provides weekend food for 355 students a week during the school year. The church also provides monthly produce for 700 households; a shoe giveaway; a back-to-school program; youth programs, and more.