100% generous…0% frostbite

It seems as the economy gets bumpier, Hoosiers start reflecting on their blessings. Steady job? Check. Warm home? Check. Healthy family? Check. And we all know there are plenty of our neighbors who can’t make that list.

Applications for Christmas assistance are over double than last year. But, each of us can do a little to lighten the burden for struggling families. We’re offering you the chance to host your very own Salvation Army Red Kettle without even having to stand outside.  

This is the ONLY way for you to volunteer for The Salvation Army from the comfort of your living room.  The idea is simple:  Create and customize your own Online Red Kettle, then email your friends and ask them to donate to your kettle.  (And you won’t be caught digging for change at the mall.)

How do you get started?  Simply go to OnlineRedKettle.org, click “Start A New Kettle,” and follow the instructions.  If you have any questions, we can help.  Email us at ORK@SalvationArmyIndiana.org and we will help you set up your Online Red Kettle.

Your group, company, or organization can also form a team kettle.  Just click “Start A New Kettle” and then “Start A Team.”  You can set a team goal and members of the team can set their own individual goals.  Find out more about the team kettle here.

This year’s Tree of Lights goal is $2.75 million.  Sounds like a lofty goal, but if just 1,000 people set up an Online Red Kettle with a goal of $275 and they reach their goal, we can raise $275,000 online.  That’s 10% of our Tree of Lights goal.  So if you love The Salvation Army but you hate the cold, host an Online Red Kettle. 

And, of course, if you love The Salvation Army and you love standing out in the cold, contact our volunteer coordinator, Elizabeth, and set up a time to ring a real bell.

Eat at Penn Station

Maybe it’s just the chill in the air. Or perhaps it’s the turkey sales at the market. Or it could be because our media partners are spreading the word. Whatever it is, the generosity is catching.

I’m thrilled to share that Penn Station East Coast Subs has joined the ever-growing list of businesses participating in the red kettle campaign. Penn Station locations throughout Central Indiana – from Muncie to downtown Indy to Bedford – will have red kettles to collect donations this Christmas season. And, as if that wasn’t great corporate citizenship, the fine folks at the downtown Indy Penn Station will be donating lunch for our volunteers on Sunday, December 14 – the last day of our annual WIBC Radiothon.

So, next time you’re looking for a place to grab lunch, remember Penn Station. We appreciate our partners and they appreciate your business.

Celebrities on the Circle

If you’ve got a few moments today (and some spare change), stop by Monument Circle. We’ll be in front of Emmis Communications for Celebrity Bell Ringing Day from 6 am until 6 pm.  And we’ve got a great line-up of celebrities to welcome your donations.

Some of our very own Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders kicked off the event this morning at 6am. We also expect our 2008 Radiothon Chair (and Indiana Basketball legend) Quinn Buckner to ring and meet and greet at 10am. Our friends from Dunkin’ Donuts are sponsoring lunch for our celebrities and volunteers and will have their Cup and Donut mascots passing out some gift cards. After lunch, the Pacers mascots – Boomer and Bowser, and the Pacemates will join us. The mascot fun continues with Blue – Indianapolis Colts Mascot, Truckie from Two Men and a Truck and IUPUI Mascot Jawz. The Salvation Army Brass Ensemble & Donut Girls will take the afternoon shift. On-air personalities from WISH-TV8 will also join us throughout the day.

Yesterday, Eric Halvorson challenged 100,000 Hoosiers to each give $5.50 a week til Christmas to help us meet our Tree of Lights goal this year. Today’s a perfect day to come over and start by giving to those who have none.

But, no worries – if you can’t make it to Celebrity bellringing, you’ll have the opportunity to give at over 140 locations throughout the city through December 24th. And, of course, if you’re interested in volunteering this season by ringing a bell at a red kettle location, or by hosting your own on-line red kettle, go to indykettle.org or give Elizabeth a call at 224-1010.

Light it up!

A special thanks for all of those who came out and helped us kick off our Tree of Lights Christmas Campaign today! Tree of Lights honorary chairman, and WISH TV-8 anchor, Eric Halvorson emceed the event as Indianapolis Mayor Ballard expressed his support for the life-changing work of The Salvation Army. Mayor Ballard addressed the overwhelming need in a though economic time and urged every person, every organization in the city to do all they could to serve those in need in our community.   “This is the season for charitable donations…it needs to last past the holidays,” said Mayor Ballard.

Through the Tree of Lights campaign and the generous support of Hoosiers, over 27 thousand people receive assistance from the Salvation Army last year. The goal this year is to raise 2.75 million dollars to once again help the thousands who are homeless, fleeing domestic abuse, overcoming addictions, or trying to get back on their feet after loosing everything in this summer’s flooding.

The lighting of our tree, the symbol of the Tree of Lights campaign, was once again made possible by a generous gift from Walmart.  Jason Wetzel, Senior Public Affairs Manager,  shared that the partnership between the Salvation Army and Walmart is the longest running Walmart partnership in the country.  Last year, more than a quarter of the money raised in Salvation Army Red Kettles was collected in front of Walmart stores.

Halvorson shared that last year the campaign raised enough to give toys to over 700 families through the annual WISHTree/AngelTree program and helped more than 1,200 people overcome their addictions. The He went on to urge everyone to “give what you can to help the Salvation Army during this holiday season.”

Halvorson also officially announced basketball legend and Pacers’ VP of Communications, Quinn Buckner will serve as this year’s WIBC Radiothon Chair. The three-day live fundraising event on 93.1 fm will go on the air December 12-14. Buckner introduced WIBC radio personalities Terri Stacy and Big Joe Staysniack as well. “It comes from our hearts when we do the Radiothon,” said Terri, encouraging the community to once again make the call and support the programs that provide shelter, programs for at-risk children and emergency disaster services. (To learn more about the WIBC Radiothon, or to become a partner visit WIBCRadiothon.org or call Kristen at 224-1019.)

Thanks to Dunkin’ Donuts for providing hot coffee and muchkins for all in attendance. And to the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary for donating the first contribution of the campaign. Thanks to all those in attendance and to all of you who support our mission to continue “Doing the Most Good” for those who need it most.

$27.50 makes a difference

I love my job. That might seem like a strange proclamation given the state of the economy and the stress of raising funds to meet the growing needs. But, it’s our partners’ passion for the mission truly makes it a pleasure to do what I do.

I read Eric Halvorson’s blog today. He’s just a guy doing his job and trying to do his part to make his community a better place. He chooses to support The Salvation Army’s efforts during the Christmas season as our honorary Tree of Lights Chair. And in his blog, he reminds readers that even though it’s a tough time to dig deep to help out our neighbors in need, that’s what we Hoosiers do. 

And here’s his tip: “Consider this: if 100,000 people give just $27.50, the Salvation Army will meet its goal.  Remember, the Census Bureau says more than 865,000 people live in Marion County.  So, it’s possible.”

I love unbridled optimism! And here’s another way to think about it – if just 100,000 of us put $5.50 in a red kettle each week until Christmas, we’d exceed that $2.75 million goal! Basically, if we gave up one fast food lunch a week, we’d not only drop a few pounds in time for the holidays, but we’d be a part of providing shelter to a woman fleeing domestic violence, after-school programs for at-risk kids and a warm meal to a family after a natural disaster. We’d be the change we all want to see.

How are you going to make a difference this Christmas? How about a Radiothon sponsorship?

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