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Salvation Army Marks 100 Years In Miami

MIAMI (CBSMiami) –- During the holiday season, many people will drop their spare change and sometimes valuable items into a Salvation Army kettle.

The tradition has been going for 100 years now in the City of Miami.

In downtown Miami, The Salvation Army Band has been accompanying the bell ringer to mark the 100th anniversary of the first bell that was rung at the corner of Flagler Street and Miami Avenue.

Instead of cars, horses and buggies could be seen traveling past the bell ringer.

"I think everybody wants to give back and do the most good.  And touching lives in a very real way.  So the Salvation Army does that every day.  I think that is the core thing as to why we are still relevant 100 years ago, today, and will be for the next 100 years," said Larry Gautier with The Salvation Army.

In 2012, The Salvation Army fed 500,000 people and helped shelter more than 12,000.

This year, The Salvation Army will make Christmas possible for 1,600 South Florida families.

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