Mayors gather to prepare for Salvation Army challenge

The Salvation Army of North Texas is again teaming up with elected officials from the Arlington and Mansfield areas to kick off the 15th Annual Mayoral Challenge, a friendly competition designed to support services that help North Texans combatting poverty, addiction and homelessness.

On Oct. 11, at The Salvation Army Arlington Corps Community Center, leadership from The Salvation Army will host a breakfast for the area’s mayors to mark the start of the challenge. The event will feature remarks from Mayor Michael Evans of Mansfield, the 2022 Arlington/Mansfield Challenge winner, who celebrated raising a record-breaking total of $125,230.33 donations — the highest amount ever raised in a single year.

“The Salvation Army anticipates increased requests for assistance heading into the holidays,” said Lt. Anna Maslenikova, Corps Officer at The Salvation Army Arlington Corps Community Center. “It is thanks to the generosity of the Arlington- and Mansfield-area elected officials, volunteers, partners, and donors that we are able to make the holidays brighter and life a little easier for all those combating poverty, addiction and homelessness in the surrounding communities.”

The Mayoral Challenge started in 2009 and though it today garners participation from elected officials across the region, it began with the mayors from Arlington, Mansfield, Dalworthington Gardens, Pantego, and Kennedale facing off to see who could fundraise the most money for The Salvation Army. Over the past 15 years, Arlington and Mansfield officials have collectively raised more than $1.1 million to support The Salvation Army of North Texas through the Mayoral Challenge, with $193,644.50 raised in 2022 alone.

The funds raised from the Mayoral Challenge will be used to support programs and services provided by The Salvation Army in the Arlington and Mansfield areas, including the Family Life Center, the Gene and Jerry Jones Family North Texas Youth Education Town (YET), food pantry services, job readiness and life skills classes, and more.

This year's participating elected officials from Arlington and Mansfield include Mayor Michael Evans of Mansfield, Mayor Jim Ross of Arlington, Mayor Laurie Bianco of Dalworthington Gardens, Mayor Russ Brewster of Pantego, Mayor Oscar Trevino of North Richland Hills, Mayor Linda Martin of Euless, Mayor Stephanie Boardingham of Forest Hill, Mayor Jan Joplin of Kennedale and Mayor Henry Wilson of Hurst.

Supporters and donors are invited to join the mayors Dec. 9, the official day of the Mayoral Challenge, in which they will bell ring at Red Kettles across Dallas, Tarrant, Ellis, Collin and Denton counties to raise the most donations.

Additionally, North Texans can join their local elected officials in registering to bell ring at a local Red Kettle at registertoring.com. They can also donate online or host their own Virtual Red Kettle as an individual or with a group. Donations stay in the community where they were given to meet local needs.

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