The Salvation Army, a religious mission organization, was founded in 1865, when William Booth left the Methodist ministry to preach in the slums of London's East End. Today, The Salvation Army is active in more than 115 nations, meeting the needs of the impoverished and unfortunate. An international movement, The Salvation Army's message is based on the Bible and its ministry is motivated by the love of God.

Locally, The Salvation Army of Buffalo exists to offer hope for a better life by meeting basic human needs. Without regard to age, religion, ethnicity or educational level, its mission is to help others through more than a dozen programs, including Emergency Family Assistance, Family Court Visitation, Emergency Shelter, Employment Services, Family Education, Spouse Abuse Education, Golden Age (Senior) Center, After-school and Youth Services, Corps Community Centers, Emergency Disaster and Canteen Services.