Captain Lopez talks holidays, future for Shelbyville Salvation Army

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 8:39 AM

By Johnny McCrory

Captain Lynn Lopez took over the leadership of the Shelbyville Salvation Army in September.

She appeared on The Morning Show to talk about holiday bell ringers and the future designs for their facility's gymnasium, food pantry and more.

Red Kettle Campaign / Bell ringers

We are currently in great need of bell ringers for all three of our locations—both Walmart doors and the Kroger door. And because I love to sing, I want to say: carolers are absolutely welcome! Come help us spread some Christmas JOY.

I’ll be out there myself this Saturday, ringing that bell and singing away.

Our kettles run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but we can accommodate earlier or later hours if someone wants to help.

Our goal this year is $55,000, and we are not close yet—but I fully believe God still works miracles, so I’m praying for a big one!

If you’d like to help, you can send checks marked Red Kettle to 136 E. Washington St., drop donations directly into the kettles as you shop, or use the new QR codes we now have on every kettle. It has never been easier to help us reach our goal.

Angel Tree Program

Our Angel Tree is underway, with 457 angels placed on trees throughout Shelbyville. Gifts are coming in daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On December 17, we’ll have a drive-thru distribution for all families who signed up.

And on December 18, we’ll hold a late sign-up day for those who missed the deadline.

We planned ahead and started with some extras so that every child can have a merry Christmas.

Looking ahead to the New Year

As we move into the new year, one of our big goals is to work with city leaders and local organizations to move our food and hygiene pantry into our community center next door. We’re aiming to create a five-day-per-week walk-through pantry with a client-choice model. This will help cut down on waste and give families more dignity and flexibility.

As we grow, we also hope to add:

• A caseworker for emergency assistance

• Our Pathway of Hope (POH) program, which helps families with children break the cycle of generational poverty

This move will also allow us to reopen our gymnasium for community use—basketball, pickleball, Silver Sneakers, and more. We’ll be looking for volunteer coaches and class leaders, and we’ll have set hours and a kettle available for donations. This will truly be a blessing for our community.