‘Why I give to The Salvation Army’

A long-time Salvation Army donor shares why she gives and how it brings her joy.

“One person can really make a difference,” Martha Gray-Heffner said.

She knew her regular gifts to The Salvation Army were helping her Northern California community—but the impact struck her in a new way during a visit to Camp Del Oro in Nevada City a few years ago. The camp was undergoing a major expansion—made possible by a donor’s endowment.

“What an awesome thing to do,” she said. “This gift could shape the lives of children for years to come.”

A faithful donor to The Salvation Army since the 1990s, Gray-Heffner first encountered the organization through its red kettles and holiday bells. Her mother also left a bequest to The Salvation Army, which made a lasting impression.

But times weren’t always easy for her family.

“I know what it’s like to be poor,” she said, describing her childhood in a family of six—two parents and four children—during a period when her father was unemployed for several years.

“One of my favorite memories is walking with my mother past a furniture store near Madison Avenue and I-80 in Sacramento,” she recalled. “We’d look at the furniture we wished we could buy in the early 1970s but couldn’t afford.”

She was part of the working poor until age 27, when she and her first husband (now deceased) bought their first home. Determined to build a better future, she worked her way through college and earned her bachelor’s degree at 40—all while working to help support her family.

Today, she says she has a good life—a beautiful home and a wonderful husband. She’s thankful she was able to work all those years, describing it as “the power to work.”

Gray-Heffner said her experience growing up in poverty gives her empathy for those in need—and continues to fuel her commitment to giving. Her motivation, she said, comes from staying aware of the challenges many in her community face.

“And I know God has a purpose for all of us to impact other people’s lives. Sometimes we might make a difference and not even realize it—through something we’ve said, or just an act of kindness. You never know when you might change someone’s life.”

Martha Gray-Heffner

“I know there’s a big need,” she said. “There’s more demand now with the high cost of living—housing, utilities and food prices all rising. I’m very aware of the economic uncertainty many families face.”

The data supports her observations: In Northern California alone, more than 58,000 people experienced homelessness in 2024, with a significant 11.8 percent increase in the number of people seeking shelter. Statewide, over 13 million Californians now live at or near the poverty line, and child poverty has surged to nearly 18 percent, returning to pre-pandemic levels.

In response, The Salvation Army’s Del Oro Division served thousands of families in 2024 through emergency shelters, food programs rent and utility assistance and youth camps—meeting needs in a region where the cost of living continues to rise, leaving renters “cost-burdened.”

And donors like Gray-Heffner are part of something even bigger: nationwide, The Salvation Army served more than 24 million people across the U.S. in the past year, offering food, shelter and hope to those facing crisis.

She said she gives to The Salvation Army because she believes in its mission.

“God has blessed us,” she said. “I give to The Salvation Army because I trust the money helps the poor and those affected by disasters.”

Gray-Heffner stays connected to The Salvation Army through regular phone calls and newsletters from her contact, Danielle Ford. They recently met for lunch to catch up.

“I’ve had the privilege of staying in touch with Martha and sharing how her generosity is changing lives,” said Ford, Associate Director of Annual Giving for the Del Oro Division. “It’s a joy not only to keep her informed about the impact she’s making, but also to get to know her personally and see the heart behind her giving.”

Simply knowing she can help brings Gray-Heffner joy—especially when it means brightening a child’s life. She recalled how, even when money was tight during her own childhood, her mother always found a way to make Christmas special by saving up for toys throughout the year.

“I like bringing that kind of joy to families,” she said. “Just knowing a child who might not get a toy otherwise gets to open one at Christmas—that means a lot.”

And she hasn’t forgotten that visit to Camp Del Oro.

“I like contributing to Camp Del Oro to help send a child to camp,” she said. “I like helping my neighbors in need.”

Gray-Heffner’s desire to give is rooted in her life experience and her faith. 

“As a Christian, I believe the Lord wants us to give back to people who may be poor but rich in faith,” she said. “2 Corinthians 9:7 says, God loves a cheerful giver.  No one should go hungry—I want to help. 

“And I know God has a purpose for all of us to impact other people’s lives,” she added.

“Sometimes we might make a difference and not even realize it—through something we’ve said, or just an act of kindness. You never know when you might change someone’s life.”

Do Good:

• It’s because of people like you that The Salvation Army can serve more than 27 million Americans in need each year. Your gift helps fight for good all year in your community. It’s an effort to build well-being for all of us, so together we rise—and that good starts with you. Give to spread hope with a donation of funds, goods or time today.