Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’

The numbers are in, and U.S. donors contributed a record-breaking $139 million in nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars to The Salvation Army’s iconic Christmas Red Kettle Campaign this year! The results are encouraging because the generous public not only helped us reach it despite a difficult economy, but the funds are especially needed as demand for social services has skyrocketed.

“Our local Corps units are reporting demand for social services that is more than 400 percent above normal in some cases,” said Commissioner Israel L. Gaither, National Commander of The Salvation Army. “We needed help this year and Americans, as well as corporate partners responded in a big way.”

These are a few ways our corporate partners helped make a big impact for a great cause:

• Walmart and Sam’s Club:

Red Kettles located at Walmart and Sam’s Club stores accounted for as much as 29 percent of the total given. The Walmart Foundation also made a direct donation of $1.25 million.

• Kroger:

Kroger stores hosted Salvation Army Red Kettles at nearly 2,000 stores. Those donations raised approx. $11.3 million, or 8% of the campaign’s physical Red Kettle total.

• Target:

Target donated more than $1.25 million in cash and in-kind donations.  They also collaborated with Hasbro, Inc.  to give 5% of the purchase price of  Hasbro toys bought at Target  to The Salvation Army.

• JCPenney:

JCPenney and The Salvation Army launched the first-ever Online Angel Giving Tree Program. People could “adopt” Salvation Army “Angels” and deliver gifts via the Internet. Tens of thousands of children and seniors in need were adopted.

• The Weather Channel:

The Weather Channel promoted a compilation CD featuring a Salvation Army-themed single entitled, “Please Don’t Forget,” performed by Grammy Award winner Aaron Neville.

The Salvation Army also used some tech saavy methods to raise money, from a new Apple iPhone application, to Facebook and Twitter, and  the Online Red Kettle.

From its humble beginnings as a fundraiser started by a Salvation Army captain in San Francisco in 1891, the Red Kettle Campaign has grown into one of the most recognizable and important charitable outreach efforts in the United States.

Thank you, America, for your generous support and making it possible for our continued service to  those in need! For more information, read our press release here or refer to a chart breakdown here.

Matthew Pochily of the Tidwater (Virginia) Command tells the Daily Press how their summer fundraising will benefit the Army’s efforts for the rest of the year.

Salvation Army branches throughout Hampton Roads raised nearly $17,400 during their first Christmas in July campaign last month, officials said Tuesday.

The economic downturn prompted the philanthropic organization to bring out its iconic bell ringers and red kettles, which are usually reserved for the Christmas season, during the summer to raise money.

Each branch recruited volunteers to stand in front of Farm Fresh stores on each Saturday last month to ring bells and collect donations. The money raised was to go toward a program designed by each branch.

Salvation Army branches in Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Newport News and Hampton raised $8,660 during the campaign.

More than $2,700 of that money will go toward the Veteran Transitional Housing program run by the Virginia Peninsula Command, which represents Newport News, Hampton, Gloucester and lower York County. The program provides housing for homeless veterans, said Matthew Pochily, spokesman for the Tidewater Command, which serves Norfolk, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. He said the remainder of the money will go to programs in the Tidewater Command.

Williamsburg’s branch raised about $5,300 for its Apple Tree program, which provides clothing and school supplies for underprivileged children, Pochily said.

Meanwhile, Gloucester raised a little more than $3,400 for a variety of programs, officials said.

by Tyra M. Vaughn
Daily Press Newspaper
Newport News, Virginia