Traditionally the 40-day Lenten season -- which, not including Sundays, runs this year from Feb. 26 (Ash Wednesday) until April 11 – is a time of fasting and repentance. Often Christians will sacrifice something – desserts, alcohol or social media, for example – in order to create more room in their hearts for prayer and to acknowledge the sacrifice Jesus made for all of us in His death on the cross.

This year, The Salvation Army Western Division encourages you to consider a slightly different Lenten sacrifice by giving clothing, food or a monetary donation as part of our Lent Challenge.

The Salvation Army depends on the material and monetary donations of generous donors to provide critical services – including food, shelter, utility assistance, youth development programs and more – to people in need across Nebraska, South Dakota and western Iowa.

Here are three easy ways to participate in our Lent Challenge:

 

Donate 40 items of clothing, household items or other goods

The warmer weather means spring cleaning is in full swing! Sort through your closets, drawers, basement and storage spaces, and for each day of Lent, select one item of clothing or a household item and place it in a bag. After Easter, donate the bag of items to a local Salvation Army Store.

When you donate goods to The Salvation Army, those items are then sold at our Family Stores. Proceeds are used to fund our Adult Rehabilitation Centers, where those struggling with drugs and alcohol find help, hope and a second chance at life.

 

Donate 40 items of food

Clean out your pantry, stop by the grocery store or organize a food drive in your neighborhood or at your church. Then donate the nonperishable food items to a Salvation Army food pantry in Nebraska, South Dakota or western Iowa. Find your local Salvation Army.

Many individuals and families are forced to make tough financial choices every month in order to put food on the table. The Salvation Army strives to ease this burden by providing food pantries and meal programs across the Western Division.

Read how The Salvation Army helped the residents of one small town in Iowa by providing three meals a day in the aftermath of the spring 2019 flooding.   

 

Become a $40 recurring donor

The Salvation Army will use your $40 monthly gift to provide a steady stream of support for people and families in need all year long. Donate now.

Monthly gifts help fund The Salvation Army’s food, housing, material assistance, older adult, anti-human trafficking, behavioral health and youth development programs.

After-school and character-building programs at corps across Nebraska, South Dakota and western Iowa, for example, offer kids and teens a safe place to socialize, get homework help and benefit from positive mentors.

Your donation could help someone like De’Janae’, who loves the extra time she gets to read, write and draw at “the Sal’s” after-school program in North Omaha. Read more about De’Janae’ and the North Corps after-school program.  

If monthly giving is too expensive, you can still give a one-time gift of $40, which will go a long way toward helping us assist individuals and families in need in your community.

 

Thank you for joining us in the 2020 Lent Challenge!

The Salvation Army Western Division pledges to do the most good with your generosity, with 87 cents of every dollar going directly to our programs. We also greatly appreciate your volunteer support; you can learn more about volunteer opportunities here.