<P> The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian para-church and an international charitable organisation structured in a quasi-military fashion . The organisation reports a worldwide membership of over 1.7 million , consisting of soldiers , officers and adherents collectively known as Salvationists . Its founders Catherine and William Booth sought to bring salvation to the poor , destitute , and hungry by meeting both their `` physical and spiritual needs '' . It is present in 128 countries , running charity shops , operating shelters for the homeless and disaster relief and humanitarian aid to developing countries . </P>
what does the salvation army do to help
running charity shops operating shelters for the homeless disaster relief humanitarian aid to developing countries