Target hosts school shopping spree for kids in need

The Salvation Army and Target teamed up yesterday to help 12,000 K-12 students across the country gear up for school with the Target School Spree. Each child, selected by The Salvation Army, was awarded an $80 Target GiftCard to purchase back-to-school supplies. The kids were paired with a Salvation Army volunteer and sent out to select school uniform items, backpacks and all the supplies they’ll need to get started.

Education is at the heart of Target’s giving and the Target School Spree is one of many ways that Target acts locally to help kids learn and schools teach, paving a path to graduation. As part the Target School Spree, Target awarded 39 of The Salvation Army divisions nationwide a total of $960,000 worth of Target GiftCards for the shopping sprees. Read more

Grant opens Resource Library at Eagle Creek Center

Thanks to a $25,000 grant from Target stores, The Salvation Army opened a new Library/Media Center at its Eagle Creek location on the Westside of Indianapolis. The grand opening (this past Thursday, November 5) began with an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony which featured local author – Lorene Burkhart,  Douglas Hairston – Director of the Mayor’s Front Porch Alliance, and Major Richard Amick – Divisional Commander for the Indiana Division.

The $25,000 grant was part of a $1 million donation to The Salvation Army to revitalize the organization’s libraries, media centers and educational facilities across the country.  The Salvation Army used the money to refurbish a little-used room in their community center.  The remodel included new lighting fixtures, flooring, bookshelves, plenty of books, and workspaces. The space includes computers and a smart board, and will give kids a place to study and learn during regularly scheduled after-school activities.   Also available will be Rosetta Stone software which will help with The Salvation Army’s ESL (English as a Second Language) classes.  “This is a wonderful thing that Target has done.  Our business partners around the community are stepping up and helping our youth and our seniors and it’s great to see,” said Douglas Hairston.

The new facility is just part of Target’s support or local communities.  “At Target, our local grants are making a difference in the communities we serve,” said Laysha Ward, vice president, community relations, Target. “We’re proud to partner with The Salvation Army as part of our ongoing commitment to give back to the communities where our guests and team members live and work.”

In addition to the grant, Target also provided a crew of volunteers to help with the labor and get the room ready for its unveiling. Adrianne Billafana, executive team leader for Human Resources at a nearby Target store, helped organize the employee-volunteers to complete the work. Although Target does many volunteer projects in the community year-round, this one has more interest for many of the volunteers.  “This is really cool,” said Billafana. “This is the first project where the money for the work comes from us, and we get to come in and do the work. It’s full circle.”