Give help, hope to newly unemployed

The ability to provide for our families is not something we should take for granted. Many of our fellow Hoosiers are struggling to make ends meet in light of rising job loss in our state. So much so that we’re expecting an additional 15% increase in requests for assistance this year due to unemployment alone.

So to continue “doing the most good”, The Salvation Army’s Midwest Headquarters has reallocated some endowment funds to make $3.45 million available in what we’re calling Hoosier Help for Hardship grants. Through this program, your neighbors in need will be able to get assistance with utilities, housing expenses and groceries.

But, in order to receive one of these $18,000 grants, each community must raise a $9,000 match of funds for a total of $27,000 of available assistance. And here’s how you can help.If just 900 of us could give at least $10 each, we’ll make our $9,000 match goal! Read more

Doughnut Girls Receive Dunkin’ Donation

We had the priviledge of spending the morning in Kokomo celebrating the grand opening of another of Dennis Gramm’s Dunkin’ Donuts locations. The air was chilly, but the welcome was warm! The line was out the door and the parking lot was overflowing as old and young alike waited to sample the wares.

And in keeping with his promise, in the presence of local dignitaries and media, Gramm presented the grand opening money ribbon to The Salvation Army’s Kokomo corps. That donation will be put to good work providing resources and services for those in need right there in Kokomo.

And we had an extra bit of fun as our very own Doughnut Girls mingled with the crowd and shared their story of how the original Doughnut Girls served soldiers starting in 1917 and throughout the war by offering home-cooked doughnuts to boost morale. Many of the veterans tell stories even today of how those “lassies” took limited supplies and used their own metal helmets to fry doughnuts right there in the trenches, offering homesick and worn soldiers a bit of America so far away.

Thanks again to Dunkin’ Donuts for inviting us to share in their expansion here in Indiana and for their continued partnership.