West Coast Tacos to feed WIBC Radiothon volunteers

Our volunteers are really in for a treat when the guys from West Coast Tacos stop by and share the tacos that are making them all the rage in Indy.

We appreciate WCT’s generosity and support as we set our sights on having enough pledges to provide 50,000 meals and 2,500 safe nights of shelter for Hoosiers in 2011. And by Sunday lunch, our volunteers will have put in dozens of hours to help out their neighbors in need.

Thanks to all of our generous meal sponsors for helping out this year. Know of an area restaurant or bakery that would be willing to provide breakfast either Friday, Saturday or Sunday of Radiothon (12/3-5)? If you do, have them call Kristen at 224-1019.

Look for us at Verizon Wireless Music Center

It’s time again for outdoor concerts and we’re thrilled to ring for Hoosiers in need before several of their concerts throughout the summer series. It’s a great way for us to bring in some extra dollars for our programs that help Hoosiers in need. And our volunteers get a little reward for giving their time in the summer sun – two free lawn tickets to that night’s concert. It’s a win-win!

So, if you’re planning on spending an evening under the stars enjoying your favorite band, look for us. We’ll be at the following concerts – Read more

Tree of Lights Ceremony Kicks off Season

WISH TV-8 anchorman, Eric Halvorson kicked off his fifth season as Chair at our Tree of Lights ceremony this morning. Community leaders and volunteers gathered to show support in raising this year’s campaign goal of $3 million – the largest goal ever set by The Salvation Army in Central Indiana. That’s an ambitious goal in a tough economic climate, but with requests for assistance soaring, we will need every last dollar to continue to provide food, shelter, utility and holiday assistance to our neighbors in need.

Walmart has generously agreed to once again serve as our Tree of Lights tree sponsor. Also joining us at this morning’s kick-off event was our 15th annual WIBC Radiothon team of Radiothon Chair and Pacers’ VP of Communications, Quinn Buckner and Terri Stacy and Joe Staysniak of the WIBC Morning Show. And special music was provided by the St. Richard’s singers and The Salvation Army Brass Ensemble. Our Divisional Commanders Majors Richard and Vicki Amick encouraged each of us to help our communities in need – if just one in ten people in Marion County could donate just $30 each, we’d collect that $3 million by Christmas! Now that’s not so unattainable.

We’d like to thank our corporate partners for their attendance and support this holiday season – Jerome Rauch – Walmart, John Elliott – Kroger and Jay Ricker – Ricker’s Oil and am/pm convenience stores and Two Men and A Truck. Thanks to Dunkin’ Donuts and GFS Marketplace for providing coffee and hot cocoa to all. Of course, we couldn’t have a tree lighting ceremony without our partners at Barth Electric. Thanks to the folks at WISH TV-8 for loaning Eric to us and for hosting and promoting the WISHTree toy collections throughout the season and at the December 13 Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Of course, this is just the beginning of the season for us. If you’d like to involve your business or organization, we’d love to have you join us! WIBC Radiothon hourly sponsorships and in-kind sponsorships are still available at WIBCRadiothon.org. Or, you can become a toy collection site and host a collection box – last year we were able to play Santa to over 900 families because of donations collected in offices and store fronts across Central Indiana! Ring a bell, host an on-line red kettle or just drop a few bucks in the kettle as you go by. With a $3 million goal, we can use all the help we can get!

am/pm shares State Fair tent

Jay Ricker sponsored a tent for his Ricker’s am/pm convenience stores  just outside the State Fair’s grandstands and invited us to join him for two days. The storms held off and we helped am/pm provide cold beverages for over-heated fairgoers as well as sharing giveaways and information on all our programs. Read more

Apple-ause for all!

On behalf of the hundreds of moms and kids who will benefit from the proceeds of this year’s Apple Fest – a huge thanks to our sponsors and neighbors who helped make the Fest a big hit!

We enjoyed a picture perfect day – and if you don’t believe us, check out the pictures…because we took a few. With fantastic Fall weather like that, who wouldn’t be enticed to come out of their cubicles and enjoy freshly grilled Applebee’s food, flavored lemonade and apple cobbler?

So, thanks to all of our fellow Hoosiers who came out to Eat in the Street in support of our Homelessness Bites campaign. And thanks to our food sponsor, Applebee’s and our promotional partner Classic Hits 104.5FM WJJK. Thanks to Band Wagon - you rocked the Circle! To our booth partners (go here to learn more) – Comedy Sportz, The Columbia Club, Adrian Orchards (those gala apples were amazing), HVAF and Operation Compassion – for coming out and sharing your products and services. Thanks to our campaign partners, Two Men and a Truck, for all you do for Homelessness Bites throughout the year!

And, of course, thanks to our volunteers who are always ready and willing to offer a hand to serve others. We appreciate you all and are looking forward to next year!

As they say, it takes a village…so don’t assume the work is done. There’s still 1,300 kids who don’t have a place to call home – who eat all their meals in the street. Homelessness Bites…Bite Back. See how you can partner with us to make a difference for our neighbors in need.

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