Delaware North

Battling to provide social services, The Salvation Army is more than 4 million strong -- including some 3.4 million registered volunteers. Its Christian faith-based programs assist alcoholics, drug addicts, the homeless, the elderly, prison inmates, people in crisis, and the unemployed through offerings such as community centers, housing facilities, and rehabilitation centers. The organization also provides disaster-relief services and operates some 1,400 thrift stores. Overall, it serves about 30 million people a year and provides in excess of 64 million meals. The US organization is a unit of the London-based Salvation Army, which oversees activities in more than 100 countries. US operations began in 1880.