BOSTON, Nov. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Northern Light (www.northernlight.com) today announced it has made a $50,000 challenge grant to The Salvation Army to help fund this year's annual distribution of Thanksgiving food baskets to needy individuals and families in the Greater Boston area. Northern Light is hopeful that the $50,000 challenge will encourage other corporate and individual donors to give, as well, so that The Salvation Army can reach its goal of $100,000 for the Thanksgiving meals program.
Each year, The Salvation Army provides Thanksgiving food baskets – which include a variety of items such as full turkeys, stuffing and pumpkin pie – to individuals and families in need. Baskets will be distributed on November 23rd in a coordinated, city-wide distribution effort at the five Salvation Army locations in Boston.
"The baskets are filled with good food, but the best things in there are a sense of normalcy, dignity, family, and hope," said C. David Seuss, Northern Light's CEO. "In this case, we saw a clear cut opportunity for one-on-one charity — where we could provide the solution to one problem for at least one identifiable group of people."
Over the past two years, The Salvation Army has seen a dramatic spike in need. From 2011 to 2012, need jumped 33 percent, from 1,200 families served to over 1,600; this year, some 1,800 families are expected to apply.
"Many individuals are struggling to provide basic necessities such as food and clothing for their families this holiday season," said Major Ivan Rock, General Secretary of the Massachusetts Salvation Army. "For those experiencing poverty, the economy continues to be a real hardship and we've seen an increase in need – even in families where one or more adults are working."
In addition to financial contributions, The Salvation Army is also accepting donations of turkeys and all the traditional fixings from those wishing to assist others this Thanksgiving and holiday season. For more information, please visit www.salvationarmyma.org.
About The Salvation Army
Whether it is shelter for a displaced family or a warm cup of coffee for our brave first responders – hope and healing is the message of The Salvation Army. Since 1865, The Salvation Army has been providing social and spiritual services to communities throughout the world. People given purpose, hearts given hope and souls finding redemption – this has been The Salvation Army's mission for more than a century. With heart to God and hand to man, The Salvation Army – an international movement – is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
About Northern Light
Northern Light has been providing strategic research portals, business research content, and search technology to global enterprises since 1996. Northern Light's current clients include Fortune 100 market leaders in information technology, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, energy, financial services, transportation, retailing, and consumer products. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Northern Light has unique partnerships with more than 100 of the world's leading syndicated technology and industry research publishers, and is a charter member of the Center for Complex Systems and Enterprises at the Stevens Institute of Technology.