DES MOINES, Iowa — Country music star Dolly Parton recently donated $1 million to The Salvation Army-USA and a portion of that donation will benefit central Iowans in need this holiday season.

According to the western division of the Salvation Army, an undisclosed amount of the $1 million donation will help Des Moines-area Salvation Army units serving Polk, Warren, and Dallas Counties, as well as the Ames, Boone, Marshalltown, and Newton areas.

While the funds are going to assist in feeding programs and food pantries, each unit will be utilizing the funds in different ways. The Des Moines metro unit will use it to support holiday feeding efforts as part of their Christmas assistance programs. The Ames unit will use it to provide grocery-store gift cards to individuals in need. The Boone unit will use it to enhance their food pantry via grocery-store gift cards to families. Both Marshalltown and Newton will use their funds to cover some of the cost of holiday food boxes being distributed to families and individuals.

“We are so grateful for Dolly Parton’s incredible giving spirit,” Salvation Army Des Moines Area Commander Maj. Dan Hull said in a statement. “We truly appreciate her support for our Des Moines-area and central Iowa-area feeding operations during the Christmas season — it will help The Salvation Army serve thousands of people in need during a critically important time of the year.”

Anyone who would like to assist The Salvation Army can do so by donating at a local red kettle or on your local Salvation Army unit’s website.

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