KCS Holiday Express raises $277K for The Salvation Army

The KCS Holiday Express program of the Kansas City Southern raised more than $277,000 to benefit The Salvation Army in the South and Midwest, the railroad announced shortly before Christmas.

"The Salvation Army tells us that the need has always been there, and this year, it's greater than ever, which is why I'm so pleased that the KCS is celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the Holiday Express project by supporting The Salvation Army in 20 communities on our rail network," said Patrick J. Ottensmeyer, KCS president and chief executive officer.

The Holiday Express fundraiser benefits The Salvation Army in the Southern Territory cities of Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Houston, Laredo and Port Arthur, Texas; Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport and Westlake, La.; Gulfport, Jackson and Vicksburg, Miss.; Decatur, Ark.; and Heavener, Okla. Units in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois also benefited.

In past years, the initiative was represented by a brightly decorated six-car train that visited communities across the railroad’s service territory; Santa and his elves gave gift cards to local Salvation Army units to buy warm clothing and other necessities for children in need. Gifts were made possible by giving by KCS employees, vendors and friends. The 2019 train distributed $170,450 in donations.

This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Holiday Express train did not operate. KCS invited people to make contributions to a special KCS/Salvation Army website: http://www.salarmy.us/HolidayExpress

The railroad thanked major sponsors including Bartlett, a Savage Company; Deanne Porter and Patrick Ottensmeyer Family Foundation; Elkay Manufacturing; Kansas City Southern Historical Society; Lockton Companies; Lynn and Michael Upchurch; Michael and Marlys Haverty Family Foundation; The Kansas City Southern Charitable Fund; Virginia Vollrath Hertenstein; Wabtec Corp.; Watco Cos.; and Wilkinson, Carmody & Gilliam. A complete list of sponsors is posted to: https://bit.ly/3p9EdWA

In the past 20 years, the charitable component of the KCS Holiday Express project has raised more than $2.3 million for The Salvation Army.