Tree of Lights Will Shine Again
Salvation Army Campaign Begins November 9
Omaha, NE - The jack-o-lanterns aren't even carved yet and already it looks like Christmas at the corner of 90th & Dodge.
Volunteers built the Salvation Army's Tree of Lights Saturday. KMTV Action 3 News Anchor Jennifer Griswold, obviously not bothered by heights, placed the giant star on the 75-foot tree.
The tree is decorated with 80,000 L-E-D lights, each representing a family in need in the Omaha area. "The need this year is greater than ever," said Joanne Bemis, Director of Development for the Salvation Army. "There's so many unemployed and underemployed. I think about different families, their great needs. We've seen a 41% increase in the number of individuals coming to the Salvation Army for assistance."
Bemis gave this startling statistic today: one-third of the children in the Omaha metro area live in poverty. "When you think about our community and the tremendous generosity of so many people, there's no greater community than Omaha. It's part of our Midwest ethic of reaching out and lending a helping hand to those in need," said Bemis.
The Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaign will begin with the tree-lighting ceremony on November 9th. Anyone interested in volunteering should call 402-898-6000.
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