The COVID-19 pandemic presented many challenges, but the Salvation Army of Central Maryland met the need to save Christmas for many through its "Hope Marches On" campaign.

The Salvation Army of Central Maryland relies on in-person fundraising events to provide meals, clothing and emergency assistance to those in need. Challenges to their efforts included shortages of bell ringer volunteers, low foot traffic to red kettles and shortages of donors for the Angel Tree program.

"During the Christmas season at The Salvation Army, resources can get stretched. Between meetings, the Red Kettle drive, Angel Tree and our continuing programs and operations, our staff and volunteers are running in a thousand directions all over Central Maryland," Maj. Roger Glick, commander of The Salvation Army of Central Maryland, said in a statement.

And despite shortages of bell ringer volunteers and fewer kettle locations to ring, the Salvation Army's iconic Red Kettles and Digital Red Kettles across Central Maryland raised more than $485,000 gross total for Salvation Army of Central Maryland's social services programs, matching last year's total.

"Some people think The Salvation Army takes a break after Thanksgiving and Christmas," Glick said. "We want to say thanks to local supporters in 2020 who made it possible for us to provide life-saving services to the hungry, homeless and families and individuals feeling hopeless in Baltimore and surrounding communities 365 days a year, seven days a week.”

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