Their $500 donation will help us give kids in need coats, hats and gloves before the snowflakes fly! And there’s still time for you to help, too.

• If you’re a parent, please check your closets at home for gently used coats that your kids no longer need. And please encourage your friends and family to do the same. You can drop off coat donations at any Tuchman Cleaners.
• Make a secure donation on-line here.
• Volunteer to set-up for Coats for Kids by calling Elizabeth at 224-1010. It takes an organized team to distribute thousands of coats.

Hoosiers have never let their neighbors in need down. We’re counting on our community to come out in full force to make sure that no kid goes without a coat this winter. And thanks again to the Lumina Foundation for supporting Bob Gregory’s Coats for Kids campaign!

Locally, our donations were down nearly $300,000 for 2009-10. That’s about 10 percent of last year’s Christmas fundraising goal! Ironically, we’ve seen a spike in requests for financial assistance for rent and utilities and for food. In fact, we’ve served about 4,000 more of our neighbors in need in spite of bringing in less funds. How’d we do it? Cash reserves. The Salvation Army is pretty financially savvy when it comes to endowments and savings. Thankfully, when that rainy day came this year, we had the resources to continue to serve, and serve more, without tightening the belt too much. That won’t be the case in months to come.

We’re gearing up for our Christmas season and it looks like it’s going to be a busy one. We’re really hustling to gather enough coats to meet our community’s needs at our Coats for Kids distribution on October 30. The final days of collecting are upon us. If you haven’t had a chance to swing by a Tuchman Cleaners and drop off those coats, now’s the time. And you can always donate towards a new coat at on our secure website.

It’s also the perfect time to start thinking about our 16th annual WIBC Radiothon coming up on December 3-5. We’re looking for 32 businesses to become hourly sponsors and set the foundation of giving for listeners to call in and pledge. There are lots of ways to put your company’s dollars to work for your community. Check out our event website and find out how you can join Indianapolis Colts’ Tom Zupancic and 93 WIBC/1070 ESPN’s ‘Big’ Joe Staysniak in supporting The Salvation Army’s life-changing programs right here in Central Indiana.

We’ve proved that The Salvation Army is “doing the most good” with less, can you help us do even more? Call Kristen at 224-1019 to find out how.

Our state has certainly felt the brunt of the economic downturn. And the trend continues in 2010 as unemployment hovers in the 10 percent range. About 43 percent of homeless schoolchildren in IPS are in kindergarten through third grade! These kids have difficulties concentrating, not knowing where they’ll sleep or where dinner will come from. In fact, these students are suspended from school at a rate of about twice the state average!

But thanks to our supporters, The Salvation Army’s Women’s and Children’s Shelter* can offer these kids some stability. Kids who stay in our shelter can count on healthy meals, warm beds and even homework help from our partners at Indy School on Wheels. The shelter isn’t a permanent solution – our counselors work with moms to get help with life skills, school or job placement and all the other resources they will need to break the cycle of joblessness, domestic violence and homelessness.

You can help us continue to provide these services to our littlest neighbors in need through the Homelessness Bites campaign. Find out how to get and fill a Bite Back box, donate online, sign up for our mobile VIP list or mark your calendar now for Apple Fest this October. For 1,500 kids in Indianapolis, homelessness bites. Bite back!

*nearly 1,100 women & children have been cared for in our shelter in 2010. Of the 204 who came to us in June, 76 were kids.

According to Huntington Bank’s 2010 Backpack Index, the average cost for a family to send a child to elementary school (with all the school recommended supplies and necessary clothing) is about $475. With the first days of school quickly approaching, parents are no doubt feeling the pressure of providing new shoes, back packs and school supplies. But, thanks to the generosity of long time Salvation Army donor, Mrs. Laura Lewis, 120 children are set to go.

Mrs. Lewis, who is now 94 years old, has provided shoes for children through The Salvation Army for five years. Mrs. Lewis grew up as an orphan, never having the luxury of new shoes for school. After enjoying a prosperous life together with her husband she wanted to give back to kids who may be less fortunate. Kalvin Henderson, proud recipient of Mrs. Lewis’ gift said, “I think she’s real nice and someone should be doing something nice for her too. I’d have to save my money for a long time to get shoes like this.”

Jo Ann Remender, Planned Giving Director for The Salvation Army says, “It’s not just meeting a physical need for these kids, it’s meeting an emotional need too. It’s preparing them for that first day of school, so they feel like they have all the necessary tools they need to be successful.”

Thanks again to Mrs. Lewis for her generous donation and to the team at the Lafayette Road Shoe Carnival for hosting the event.

Each of us have the means to make a difference in our community by giving of our time and resources. If you’re interested in helping your neighbors in need through The Salvation Army, give Kristen a call at 224-1019.

“In a year when so many need help, the new online Angel Giving Tree program will extend our reach and make it easier for our customers and Associates to give back this holiday season,” said Mike Boylson, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for JCPenney. “By leveraging the strength of jcp.com, we are helping to modernize an American tradition – the Angel Tree program – and creating an innovative way to help families in need in our communities across the nation. Launching this program with The Salvation Army allows us to elevate our support for a cause that is extremely important to our customers and Associates, underscoring our focus on the ‘Joy of Giving’ this holiday season.”

The new online Angel Giving Tree program builds on the legacy of The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program that has been in operation for more than 40 years. “We are excited about this new online Angel Giving Tree program with JCPenney that will allow The Salvation Army to build upon a great Christmas tradition by reaching a new online audience,” said Major George Hood, national community relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army. “With the winter months around the corner, we appreciate this opportunity to inspire the American public to make a better Christmas for the millions of children and seniors living in poverty. One small gift can bring joy to a Salvation Army Angel this Christmas.”

Created in collaboration with JCPenney partners Razorfish, Akamai Technologies, Sapient and Tata, the online Angel Giving Tree program allows customers to adopt an Angel at jcp.com/angel and conveniently shop for them online at jcp.com, in JCPenney stores or at any location they choose. In a few easy steps, customers can visit the site to request an Angel by location, age range and gender. An Angel who matches the criteria will be e-mailed to the customer along with a list of needed items. The confirmation e-mail will also include a link to view drop-off locations in the customer’s area and ship-to addresses for online orders. In collaboration with FedEx Ground, Angel Giving Tree gifts purchased through jcp.com can be shipped free of charge to any one of the 1,200 Salvation Army collection centers nationwide – putting the entire selection, shopping and delivery process at the customer’s fingertips.

Supporting the online Angel Giving Tree program will be a multimedia marketing campaign including in-store, print, online and e-mail advertising as well as social media initiatives through Facebook Connect. JCPenney Facebook fans will be able to access the Angel Giving Tree website directly as well as post and share their Angel adoption with their friends. The online Angel Giving Tree program builds on JCPenney’s legacy of operating in an ethical and socially responsible manner. In 2007, the Company launched its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative – C.A.R.E.S. – stemming from the vision that JCPenney cares for its Community, Associates, Responsible Sourcing, Environment and Sustainable Products. The Company’s commitment to social responsibility reflects its philosophy that “Every Day Matters” – for its customers, Associates, communities, investors and suppliers. Additional information on JCPenney’s CSR initiatives can be found at http://www.jcpenney.net/about/social_resp/default.aspx

Hoosiers all over the state (individuals and businesses) opened their hearts and wallets to help their neighbors in need. And, although the grant application period for matching funds has now ended, you can always make a donation to The Salvation Army online, anytime here.

Our partners donated generously across the state. Here’s how it broke down by county:

• Anderson / Madison County: $6,000
• Kokomo / Howard County: $9,000
• Marion / Grant County: $10,581
• Muncie / Delaware County: $9,200
• Richmond / Warren County: $500
• Terre Haute / Vigo County: $9,000
• Indianapolis / Marion County: $7,340
• Statewide other: $77,970

Everywhere you turn there’s talk of the economy – who’s cutting jobs, who’s being bailed out, who’s profitting and who’s not. But who’s helping, really HELPING who? Maybe the government – to some extent. More often, it’s the non-profits and their communities meeting the needs. But with so many organizations out there, how do you know where to give and who’s doing the most with what you’re able to give?

We realize we’re just one of the thousands of options out there. In fact, the number of charities and non-profits INCREASED by more than 5% in each of the past two years – to nearly 1.2 million in 2008! With so many choices (and good causes), it’s important that you know that “doing the most good” for our neighbors in need isn’t just a slogan at The Salvation Army.

Efficiency and effectiveness make it possible for more than 84 cents of every dollar donated to The Salvation Army to be used to provide assistance to those who are struggling. In 2008, through the support of our partners here in Indiana, The Salvation Army…

• served 66,392 people by providing shelter and care
• provided 192,937 meals
• gave winter coats to over 4,000 kids through Coats for Kids
• played Santa to over 900 families through our annual Toy Shop
• assisted 1,286 people with substance abuse care
• sent 546 at-risk youth to summer camp
• shipped nearly 7,000 care packages to our troops through Operation Compassion
• provided $2.5 million in assistance as well as 10,000 meals and 4,000 clean-up kits to Indiana flood victims

We appreciate the vital role our partners play in keeping our doors open and the assistance available. Right now the need is greater than it has been in some time (go here to help). But, Hoosiers have been generous no matter how turbulent the economy has been.

Thank you for your continued support! It’s amazing how much we can do when we work together.

Maybe it’s a tough time for your company, but we know you want to help us provide shelter for the homeless and Christmas gifts for kids who would otherwise have none. The Salvation Army’s on-line red kettle campaign allows your team to sign up for a virtual red kettle and raise funds together for those in need. Now you can each give and let Indy know that your company cares – every dollar makes a difference!

Want to know more? Go to indykettle.org and we’ll tell you all you need to know to get started.

Ironically, as the watchers are predicting and companies are bracing, families are losing their homes and the help hotlines are heating up. But, that’s what we’re here for. We are opening our doors wide to meet the needs in our community. Our mission to provide shelter to women and children fleeing domestic violence, financial and resource assistance to families who are struggling, and coats and Christmas gifts to children who would otherwise have none does not change with the tides of the market. 

And our commitment to our partners remains strong – when you give, you can expect change. As you thoughtfully consider where to give your support this holiday season, rest assured that those we serve remain our top priority, and we want the community to know who is making this good work possible. One of the best ways to make a difference and earn a little good will in the community’s heart is by partnering with us for our 14th annual WIBC Radiothon this December.

Your participation in this year’s Radiothon will play a vital role in the funding of the programs that we provide to those experiencing the greatest need. With consideration for the squeeze you may be feeling right now, we have designed our participation levels with flexibility in mind. If we haven’t already spoken, I look forward to meeting with you and finding a way to make a difference together.