Will you join our team?

Most of Indy’s attention is out at the motor speedway, but here at the Salvation Army, we’re warming up for another Maration of Giving.

This December marks our 15th WIBC Radiothon on 93.1fm. And we’re thrilled to welcome back our 2008 Radiothon Chair Quinn Buckner for a second year. So, the details are beginning to come together. Mark your calendar for December 11-13!

You’ve heard the news, the economy’s been tough on individuals and businesses alike. But we know that Hoosiers take care of their own and the need is great. The Salvation Army’s seen a 20% increase in requests for basic assistance – help with housing, utilities and food. In April alone, we had 157 women and children living in our shelter!

So, as you are looking at your budget and planning your giving strategy, please remember The Salvation Army’s Radiothon. This 55 hour marathon of giving is the easiest way to make a big difference for our neighbors in need. If you’d like to learn more about sponsoring this event or donating items for our prize packages, please call Kristen at 224-1019.

WIBC does “most good” with pit stop win

 Each year the Media Pitstop Challenge is held as part of Community Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  The competition features local media outlets battling it out by changing tires on an indy car.  The winner of this popular event receives $5,000 to be given to the charity of their choice.

This year, for the first time in the history of the competition, WIBC won. Read more

Picnic helps hundreds “Bite Back”

Thanks to a group of dedicated sponsors and volunteers, our “Eat Outside the Box” picnic to end homelessness was a huge success!

So, we wanted to take a minute to share some photos and say a special thanks to those who made it happen. Our friends at All American Picnic Company grilled over 500 hot dogs and Costco provided chips to make it a meal. Bandwagon kept the crowd moving with their toe-tappin’ performance. Blue entertained the crowd while his friends from the Colts shared the Vince Lombardi trophy. Lunchgoers also enjoyed shootin’ some hoops at the Pacers Fan Van while some of the Pacemates handed out posters and give-aways for fans. Long-time partners Two Men and a Truck gave away a free 8 hour move as Trucky mingled with the crowd.

We had a great booth sponsor turnout as well with representatives from the University of Phoenix, Keller Williams Realty, HIP, Indy School on Wheels, the Avenue, Trina’s Treats, The Indianapolis Star, HVAF, and the American Legion.

When 1,300 of our youngest citizens spend their nights on the streets, we have to do something about it. And yesterday’s event was another way to educate Hoosiers that they can make a difference by supporting the services that The Salvation Army already has in place. To learn more, visit HomelessnessBites.org

And don’t forget to mark your calendar to join us for our 6th annual Apple Fest on Monument Circle on Thursday, October 1.

Target hits bullseye for charities

 

Are you a “fan” of Target? Well, you should be. They’re using their facebook page to give back to the community. What a great idea!  

Visitors to Facebook.com/target will be able to vote for their favorite charity once every 24 hours through May 25.  At the end, each charity will receive a percentage of $3 million based on the votes they receive. (We’re currently in second place!)

How are we working with Target? We’re creating libraries at our community centers across the country! The libraries will be available to local communities , including Indianapolis, as a resource center for children and adults to learn and even job search. 

Log in to (or join) facebook now and vote for The Salvation Army!

Students Care, Gilchrist Shares

Ms. Steffen’s fourth grade class sent out a Call to Care and Gilchrist & Soames answered.

These White Lick Elementary students have spent weeks learning about the 1,300 kids (and their moms) who are homeless right here in Indy. When Ms. Steffen told her class that the average age of a homeless person in our city is 9 years old, that really hit home for her kids – many of which are about 10 years old themselves. So, they started a group called “A Call to Care”.

These compassionate kids have spent their time collecting old cell phones for donations, making handmade fleece blankets and now welcome kits for the women and kids who come to The Salvation Army’s Social Service Center here in downtown Indianapolis. Read more