Bikers donate over 700 toys

This weekend, over 350 motorcyclists delivered toys to The Salvation Army as part of the 15th annual Circle City Toy Run. About 200 cycles shook the street as the giant convoy, which required a police escort, traveled from Zaines Too Bar & Grill to The Salvation Army’s Headquarters at 3100 North Meridian Street.

The bike enthusiasts brought with them over 700 toys which will be distributed to children in need during The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree distribution at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in a few weeks. Last year, over 13,000 toys were collected and distributed to families in need through Salvation Army toy programs.

The organizer of the Circle City Toy Run, Ron “Bumber” Herron says that he runs the annual event in honor of his Mother, Dorothy Herron, who was big supporter of The Salvation Army. Captain Marcos Ramirez expressed his gratitude for the generous gift as he spoke to the participants. “Your generosity is going to make a difference in hundreds of children’s lives. You’ve warmed my heart today,” said Captain Ramirez.

You can find out more about The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree and WISHtree programs by visiting IndyWISHTree.org.

Celebs ring on Monument Circle

 If you’re in downtown Indy this afternoon, you’ll notice it sounds a lot more like Christmas. Today is Celebrity Bell Ringing Day in front of Emmis studios on Monument Circle. Some of our more recognizable friends are giving an hour or more of their time today to ring bells and collect some of the first donations of the season.

So far today, we’ve had the priviledge of ringing with some of the lovely Colts cheerleaders, WISH TV-8 personalities, our WIBC Radiothon Chair (and Pacers’ own) Quinn Buckner, Darth Vadar, Boomer, Trucky and Big-E-Foot. We’ve also had some fun previewing tomorrow’s Turkey Bowling event with GFS Marketplace.

Speaking of turkey bowling, if you’re out and about on the west side tomorrow, stop by the GFS Marketplace on Rockville Road for their Thanksgiving sampling day and Turkey Bowling. We’ll be there and we hope you’ll join us in packing the pantries at our community centers.

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!

Help us play Santa to Indy’s kids in need

Once again, we’re teaming up with our friends at WISH TV-8 to provide Christmas gifts to area kids in need. As you’re out shopping for gifts for your loved ones, pick up an extra toy or two and drop it in one of the many WISHTree and Angel Tree collection boxes throughout the city. The Salvation Army will use that gift to make a child’s Christmas wishes come true.

We began accepting applications for Christmas assistance at the beginning of November. This year, we saw a 150% increase in requests in the first day! We need your help to meet the need. In 2008, we were able to help over 900 families through the support of our community. With so many more in need, we know our goal has to be higher – you can help.

We’ll be collecting toys throughout the city from now until December 14. You can also host a collection drive at your office or storefront. Just give Crissy a call at 224-1017 and we’ll get a collection box to you right away! You can also bring a toy to the WIBC Radiothon on December 12 on Monument Circle. Or even drop off a toy on the way into the December 13 Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium. (The folks at WISH TV-8 will be passing out Colts collector posters to all who donate that day.)

If everyone gives what they have, no one goes without!

Apple Fest raises over $9,200 – way to Bite Back!

Thanks to the hundreds of you who made it down to Apple Fest yesterday. The numbers are in and Apple Fest brought in over $9,200 this year! It takes every last person who came out to volunteer or put your lunch dollars to work, so thanks for caring about our mission…and then doing something about it.

We want to be sure to thank our event sponsors. Without the generosity of partners like ours, we wouldn’t have the ability to host an event for you to be a part of. So, thanks to our campaign sponsor – Two Men and a Truck, lunch sponsor – Applebee’s, apple cobbler sponsor – GFS Marketplace, apple sponsor – Adrian Orchards, media partners – WIBC 93/ESPN The Fan 1070/B105.7/HANK 97.1, campaign spokesperson, Mel McMahon, Big Brothers Big Sisters, The American Legion, Dunkin’ Donuts, Comedysportz, Squish Designs, Indy Moms Like Me, the Indiana Pacers and their Fan Van, the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders, and folks from each of our Salvation Army’s nearby locations. And thanks to Bandwagon for setting the mood with some great tunes that certainly called people from blocks away!

So, thanks for supporting Homelessness Bites and for donating coats to Bob Gregory’s Coats for Kids. Stay tuned to find out how much we raised for programs at our women’s and children’s shelter.

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