Salvation Army signups for holiday assistance this week in Washtenaw County
For anyone in the county in need of holiday assistance, The Salvation Army of Washtenaw County is accepting requests from Tuesday, Oct. 23 through Thursday, Oct. 25. There will be a number of signup sessions at both the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Corps community centers.
Last year, the organization received 623 requests for assistance from families, singles and seniors in Washtenaw County, and that number is expected to rise this year to 650 requests, said Daniel Stocking, who works for Franco Public Relations Group, which represents The Salvation Army of Washtenaw County.
The holiday assistance program offers gift cards for Meijer stores that, Stocking says, "must be used to purchase foods and household items. The cards cannot be used to purchase alcohol or tobacco products."
The Salvation Army depends on its holiday fund-raising drive for a significant portion of its revenue.
In 2011, Ann Arbor's poverty rate was nearly 24 percent, and The Salvation Army of Washtenaw County helped provide more than 12,200 meals and 17,300 nights of shelter to people in need.
Stocking says that toys available are donated and aimed at children up to 14 years of age.
The Ann Arbor Corps Community Center is located at 100 Arbana Drive in Ann Arbor and has signups on Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Ypsilanti Corps Community Center is located at 9 South Park St. in Ypsilanti and has signups on Tuesday, Oct. 23 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and Thursday, Oct. 25 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Residents must provide current identification for all household adults, as well as proof of residence and two items to show proof of dependents such as birth certificates or social security cards.
For more information about holiday assistance or about donating to the Salvation Army, call 734-668-8353 or go to the Salvation Army website. Anyone interested in volunteering to be a bell ringer for the organization's holiday fund-raising drive can go to www.registertoring.com/washtenaw to sign up.
Comments
brian
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 1:34 a.m.
Yes, could I get a T-Bone medium, a baked potato with sour cream and chives and a salad with Italian dressing please.
brian
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 1:11 a.m.
It's amazing how many people are on food stamps, section 8, financial aid. They need this aid but can still afford alcohol, tobacco and blunts, and they still need more help. Guess I'm living the wrong life.
Mike D.
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 11:08 p.m.
Unless and until the Salvation Army rescinds its hateful anti-gay policies, it won't get a dime from me or any of my friends or family. Instead, we donate to local organizations that help all people: Ozone House and Food Gatherers. http://ozonehouse.org/ http://www.foodgatherers.org/
brian
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 1:31 a.m.
Good, keep your money.
Unusual Suspect
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 11:35 p.m.
Uh, some food from Food Gathers goes to Salvation Army. Good thing we have groups like Food Gathers who are interested in actually helping people, not spreading a poisonous, hate-filled Progressive agenda.
Brad
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 11:30 p.m.
I sure hate to be a "single issue non-contributor", but that is the position that the "Army" has driven me to. My grandmother was a lifetime leader in her Kansas City SA chapter and in honor of that our family has been long-time supporters, but like @Mike we no longer contribute due to their discriminatory employment policies. It's a shame because otherwise they would be a top-notch local charity worthy of our enthusiastic support.
Tom Todd
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
soon we will all make a dollar an hour and be a third world country maybe then people will stop being jealous of those who make more.
brian
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 1:25 a.m.
I think that is happening now.
Jake
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 1:38 p.m.
As you open your pocketbooks for the next natural disaster, please keep these facts in mind: The American Red Cross President and CEO Marsha J. Evans' salary for the 2011 was$951,957 plus expenses. The United Way President Brian Gallagher receives a $675,000 base salary along with numerous expense benefits . UNICEF CEO Caryl M. Stern receives $1,900,000 per year (158K) per month, plus all expenses including a ROLLS ROYCE. Less than 5 cents (4.4 cents) per donated dollar goes to the cause. The Salvation Army's Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a salary of only$13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization.96 percent of donated dollars go to the cause.
Brad
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 6:02 p.m.
Cut/pasted from a chain e-mail from a couple of years ago. http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/charities.asp
stevek
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 4:42 p.m.
Jake, before posting and stating facts, try to have them at least CLOSE to being correct. Marsha Evans has not been president at the Red Cross in YEARS!! Todd Bassett Is NOT the Commissioner at the Salvation Army,, and hasn't been for 6 years!! Even when he was, the salary you quote is a myth. It is actually waaaay more than that. I don't think you got one statement correct.
kraM
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 3:52 p.m.
Jake's information here is wildly inaccurate. You have the wrong CEOs and salary information for both the Red Cross and Salvation Army, as well as fictional efficiency percentages. I couldn't be bothered to look up the other two organizations, but I'd be guessing those are outdated and inaccurate as well. "Snope" the information if you care for the correct info, or even try a simple Google search.
fjord
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 2:51 p.m.
BUT ... the Salvation Army is fervently anti-gay, and as a result they never get any of my money. Instead of donating to an umbrella organization like United Way, cut out the middleman and donate directly to an organization (hopefully a local one) that does work you support. It may take a little more effort on your part, but it's the best way to ensure that your dollars are actually making a difference.