McCulloch County, Texas: The Salvation Army Brady Service Unit provided round-the-clock hydration, hot meals, PB&J sandwiches and snacks to firefighters and first responders who had been battling the Mays Fire in San Saba and McCulloch counties since the wildfire broke out Sunday, Aug. 2. A total of 10,000 acres had burned by the time the fire was estimated to be 65 to 75 percent contained two days later. The blaze followed by only a few weeks the Gate 5 Fire, which burned more than 13,340 acres in McCulloch County. The Salvation Army served at both fires. One Texas Forest Service firefighter said, “You guys have definitely raised the morale of the firefighters as we usually eat MRE’s and canned tuna fish during deployments. The Salvation Army’s presence and meal service is usually the topic of conversation in the evening at the firefighter camp. Thank you!”

Chattanooga, Tennessee: In partnership with The Nehemiah Project, volunteers gathered at The Salvation Army to stuff 6,500 backpacks with school supplies. They will be delivered at this year’s drive-thru Back to School Bash. “We appreciate our friends from United Way of Greater Chattanooga and Hamilton County Schools for helping to facilitate the event,” the Chattanooga Area Command said in a Facebook posting. “Of course, this would not be possible without the help of all the AMAZING volunteers who supported the project. Thanks to all, kids across Chattanooga will be ready to start the school year right.”

Charleston, West Virginia: After a rainy drive to Logan, West Virginia, the morning of July 31, The Salvation Army in Charleston and the United Way of Central Virginia were blessed to provide food boxes to 1,000 people in 305 families.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Thanks to the generosity of Westlake Ace Hardware customers, The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Command reported another successful fan drive. Every summer, The Salvation Army partners with Westlake, a Kansas-based retailer with stores in the Midwest and South, to raise funds for the purchase of electric fans to be distributed to low-income seniors, qualified families with children and adults with disabilities. This year, 591 fans were given away in Oklahoma. “These fans will be a tremendous relief for so many in our community,” the Central Oklahoma Command posted to its Facebook page.

Louisville, Kentucky: Members of Youth with a Mission, a volunteer organization that trains young people for discipleship, helped clean up and improve the playground at The Salvation Army Center of Hope. The building is the Louisville Area Command’s community center that houses services and programs that include a homeless shelter for men, women, veterans and families with children. Every night, some 200 people sleep at the overnight shelter and in temporary emergency apartments. “We thank these great volunteers for all they do to help us at The Salvation Army!” the Louisville Command said in a Facebook posting.

Atlanta, Georgia: Joshua Dickerson (right), executive director of The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Atlanta, and Pastor Connell Newton of Kingdom Life Atlanta pick up boxes of essential items at the Fuqua Boys & Girls Club on July 22 to deliver to metro Atlanta households in need. Kingdom Life is a Christian ministry that partners with local nonprofits to meet the needs of its community. The boxes, containing non-perishable food items, face masks, toilet tissue, paper towels and other necessities, were distributed to 100 families, benefiting an estimated 500 people.

Fort Myers, Florida: Representatives from local retailer Wawa provide lunch for Salvation Army social services staff and volunteers. This support was gratefully received by The Salvation Army as it continues doing the most good in the community.