Salvation Army Founder's Day – Apr. 10, 2027

Expected Salvation Army Founder's Day Deals

On Salvation Army Founder’s Day, the focus shifts from commercial deals to charitable giving and community support. Organizations like The Salvation Army itself encourage donations to sustain their vital programs, often amplified by corporate partners such as Walmart, Kroger, and Target who have historically supported their Red Kettle campaigns and disaster relief efforts. Many local businesses and individuals participate by volunteering time or organizing donation drives for food, clothing, and toys. We encourage everyone to visit SalvationArmyUSA.org to find local opportunities to contribute and learn more about their impact.

History of Salvation Army Founder's Day

William Booth was born on April 10, 1829, in Nottingham in the U.K. Due to poor circumstances, Booth was apprenticed to a pawnbroker by his father when he was 13. Two years later, Booth experienced a religious conversion. He started reading extensively and training himself in writing and speaking and became a Methodist local preacher.

Booth was unemployed when his apprenticeship ended in 1848, and a year later, he moved to London and found work with a pawnbroker. In 1851, Booth joined the Methodist Reform Church, and on his 23rd birthday, he quit pawnbroking and became a full-time preacher at their headquarters. In 1855, Booth married Catherine Mumford, a member of the Methodist Reform Church. Booth and Catherine started The Christian Revival Society in the East End of London in 1865, which was later renamed the Christian Mission. Their focus was on teaching people about the message of Jesus Christ in a way they could relate to, by meeting wherever they saw fit while addressing their material needs. They wanted to reach those rejected by the traditional churches, including those impoverished and disadvantaged.

In 1878, The Christian Mission got its present name, The Salvation Army. A year later, Salvationist Amos Shirley unofficially worked for The Salvation Army and traveled to Philadelphia in the U.S. After learning that, Booth decided to send a small group — George Scott Railton and seven others — to New York to formally begin The Salvation Army’s work in 1880. In the same year, The Salvation Army expanded to Australia. In 1881, the first meetings in Paris were held by Booth’s eldest daughter, Catherine Booth-Clibborn, also known as la Maréchale. International expansion was quick and continued to other countries. Booth’s method was to try and work alongside people in a culturally-appropriate way blending service with evangelism.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Salvation Army Founder's Day