The Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul Launch Unified Holiday Assistance Program

The Salvation Army of Brown County and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Brown County (SVDP) are proud to announce a new partnership to provide a unified holiday assistance initiative called “Blessing Tree.”

This joint effort aims to streamline holiday support for families in need across Brown County by combining resources, outreach, and operations to maximize community impact. The Blessing Tree program will provide gifts to children (birth to 18 years old) during the holiday season, ensuring no one is left behind.

"This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to serving the community with compassion and efficiency," said Captain Vinal Lee, pastor and corps administrator for The Salvation Army. "By working together, we can reach more families and make the holidays brighter for those in need."

Brown County Blessing Tree builds on the more than 25 years that St. Vincent de Paul of Brown County has provided Christmas gifts to families in the community, including last year’s extremely successful Blessing Basket, where donors gave $25 to $30 “wish list gifts” to more than 400 children from 150 local families.

“We believe that partnering with The Salvation Army makes so much sense,” said Cheryl Dixon, Special Projects Coordinator with SVDP. “We both have successful holiday programs and by combining SVDP’s Blessing Basket and The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree, we know we can extend our reach and serve even more kids in our community.”

The agreement is effective through January 1, 2028, with reviews every three years. Both organizations will co-monitor the program to ensure compliance, quality, and continued alignment with their missions.
For more information or to get involved, visit BlessingTreeBrownCounty.org.