SAWA is comprised of 130 members who provide emergency assistance, disaster response and community projects to assist residents of Hood County.
“The Salvation Army organization is 156 years old; the women, however, are not,” said Ellen Dennison, fundraising chair for HCSA. “We are passionate, caring and energetic women who have a servant’s heart and love for the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Dennison said their group became known as The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary in December 2019. For the 10 years prior to that, they were known as the Women’s Service League.
“We were the only Salvation Army group of its kind in the world,” she said. “One of the largest SA volunteer organizations in a community without the presence of an SA Church.”
Financial donations are essential to funding the SAWA projects for Hood County, such as providing clothing, new shoes and hygiene kits to school-age children, blankets and hygiene kits to residents of nursing homes and assistance to fire victims.
“We support Hood County Christmas for Children by buying beds as requested and have given over 300 beds,” Dennison said. “We send children to summer camp at Camp Hoblitzelle, a Salvation Army camp in Midlothian, Texas, where children learn a Christian message and enjoy fun at camp.
“The auxiliary also helps maintain an Emergency Disaster Relief vehicle, graciously housed at DeCordova Bend Estates, that allows us to aid first responders and victims of natural disasters in Hood County and surrounding areas.”
For the last seven years, the SAWA has hosted a luncheon-style show and a silent and live auction called Charities on the Runway. However, the last few years they have sold out with over 300 people in attendance.
“We didn’t feel like an in-person large gathering was the responsible thing to do this year and we also didn’t want to ask merchants for silent auction items because it’s been a difficult year for our merchants too,” Dennison said.
This year, SAWA is selling seasonal wreaths for its fundraiser, with an option of purchasing four different wreaths, one for each season: the spring/summer bundle, summer patriotic, autumn and winter. “The wreath campaign is a new creative idea from my committee, so these are handmade with love from all volunteers in The Salvation Army,” Dennison said.
An individual’s financial donation allows them to choose one or more wreaths, handmade by SAWA volunteers.
A financial donation amount of $75 will earn the individual one wreath — or $150 for two, $215 for three or $275 or higher for all four.
“The main message is the needs of the community are at an alltime high and that’s because of the compounding effect of COVID and people losing their jobs, losing their income and then the whole polar freeze on top of it,” Dennison said. “They just have huge utility bills and repairs and we just have a steady stream of people in need. We’d really like to reach out to the community, to other charities, to churches, to retirees, whoever lived here who has a heart for The Salvation Army and can make a contribution.”
All donations stay local and go to serving the community of Hood County.
“Given that we had to cancel Charities on the Runway, this is our primary fundraiser,” Dennison added. “Our goal for this year is $60,000. Straight financial donations are welcome as well.”
Individuals can make checks payable to: Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary of Hood County. Mail the form and payment to: SAWA Fundraiser P.O. Box 5023 Granbury, TX 76049.
For orders, go online (https:// tinyurl.com/SAWAwreaths) to purchase wreaths. You can also donate online (https://tinyurl.com/SAWAdonation).
