Photo: Red Kettle Campaign kick off
The Batavia Salvation Army kicked off its annual Red Kettle Campaign today at Seymour Place, East Main Street. WBTA's Geoff Redick made the honorary first donation.
Salvation Army
Salvation Army to host dinner and auction to benefit holiday programs
The Women's Auxiliary of the Batavia Salvation Army will host a Swiss Steak Dinner & Basket Auction on Saturday, Nov. 13.
It will be held at 529 E. Main St. in Batavia to benefit the Thanksgiving and Christmas programs. Take-outs start at 4:30 p.m.; dinner is at 5.
Tickets are $8 and will only be available until Oct. 29. Contact 343-6284 or 345-1663 for more information.
A Puppet Good Time on South Spruce Street
The youth puppet team from Genessee Country church joined up with Care-A-Van Thursday evening for their weekly cookout. The youth presented an awesome puppet show for all the kids and their parents. 35 people from the neighborhood came to the cookout. Captain Bob Krutz and wife Pat from the Salvation Army were on hand. Captain Bob will be giving the message for street church at South Spruce this Sunday. The service starts at 2:30 PM.
Thank you to the youth from Geneesee Country church and all the people that come out to volunteer to bring joy, peace and happiness to others!
The youth with their advisor Rachel
Now he looks like he is enjoying his hotdog!
Kim Gloskowski volunteer from Emmanuel Baptist Church helps little Lilly celebrate her birthday with an ice cream cone!
SPRING TREASURE SALE
The Woman’s Auxilary of the Salvation Army will be holding a Spring Treasure Sale at 529 East Main St., Batavia on April 24. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bake sale and refreshments will be available. LARGE assortment of craft supplies, household items, kitchen utensils, toys and clothes and much more. Priced to go! Donations will be accepted after April 1 until April 20. For more information call the Army office 343-6284.
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Salvation Army Reaches Out to Feed City
Last Saturday, the Salvation Army here in Batavia held a food giveway. Pictured above is Captain Bob of Salvation Army taking a quick break with Paul Ohlson of Care-A-Van Ministries. There was approximately over 450 families with over 1,500 family members that benefited from the food that was donated by Food Link. Food was also distributed to other local agencies and organizations to have on hand to help people.
These young gentlemen came out to volunteer for the day. Cornell Cooperative Extension was on hand to offer their services as well as the Fidelis Insurance company who helped people without insurance fill out applicatons to see if they could be eligible for benefits.
It was a great day to see all the different agencies coming together to help others.
Captain Bob and his wife Patty are doing an awesome job of serving at the local office.
Down to Earth Approach reunion show - one night only!
Batavia's own rock 'n roll band Down to Earth Approach will reunite for one night only to play all the songs on their first CD, "Another Intervention."
Saturday, December 26, 2009
7:00-10:00 PM
the former Main Street Coffee
111 Main Street, Batavia
$15 at the door (no advance sales)
A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS GOES TO THE BATAVIA SALVATION ARMY!
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Salvation Army's goal of helping 760 families is only half funded
The Salvation Army has sent out an S.O.S. in an effort to shore up a big gap in giving this holiday season. Here's the press release:
The Salvation Army of Batavia is $6,000 behind in its Red Kettle Campaign, compared to this time last year, and is barely half-way to its $65,000 goal, reported Captain Robert Kurtz, director.
Describing the situation as urgent, he attributed the shortfall to the tough economy, not enough outdoor bellringers, the weather, and, with the prevalence of debit/credit cards, fewer people carrying cash.
“We need more bellringers, especially in the evening,” the captain said. “Even though we are quite a bit behind, we trust in the community to help us serve those in need. We have committed to provide food and toys for 760 needy families this Christmas.”
The community can help in three ways, he noted.
- Become a bellringer (especially groups). Call 585-343-6284; call The Red Kettle Center toll free at 1-877-764-7259, or go online to redkettles.org.
- Become a virtual bellringer by going to onlineredkettle.org.
- Send a tax-deductible check directly to the local Salvation Army, 529 East Main St., Batavia, NY 14020
He added: “We thank everyone who has volunteered or made a donation, and we are grateful to our community and neighbors who remember those less fortunate.”
Give to needy children and seniors this Christmas
JCPenney Co. and The Salvation Army have joined forces this Christmas season to give joy to people in need through a grand-scale online Angel Giving Tree program.
Up until Dec. 14, customers can adopt needy children and seniors and shop online for Christmas gifts for them at www.jcp.com/angel.
The new online Angel Giving Tree program builds on the legacy of The Salvation Army's Angel Tree program, where people would pick the name of someone in need and buy a gift for him or her.
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.
"We appreciate this opportunity to inspire the American public to make a better Christmas for the millions of children and seniors living in poverty," said Major George Hood, national community relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army. One small gift can bring joy to a Salvation Army Angel this Christmas."
"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 create 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."
Salvation Army hosts Harvest Festival Oct. 2
The Salvation Army will host a Harvest Festival on Friday, Oct. 2 at its gymnasium, located at 529 E. Main St. in Batavia.
There will be a huge rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with used clothing, toys, books, linens, electric goods, furniture, houseware and more.
There will be lots of food available for sale, including breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs, cold plates, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, sweet potato fries, French fries, sausage sandwiches, salads, soft drinks and popcorn.
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Weeds cut down in front of Salvation Army
Since I complained about it, I should note the clean up: When I was driving to the office this morning, I noticed this man out in front of the Salvation Army Thrift Store on Jackson cutting the grass strips in front of the parking lot. When I drove home, the whole area looked much nicer.
News roundup: Rain in the forecast...?
Road crews all over Genesee County have been vigilant and most roads and city streets are now all clear of the ice and snow that covered them yesterday, according to WBTA's Dan Fischer. Nevertheless, some patches of packed snow can be found in spots, so caution is still advised while driving. As for tonight—how about rain? Temperatures will be pushing 40 degrees as we head into Christmas Eve. That means some of the ubiquitous snow will shrink down as it melts.
Fischer reports that the storms have caused some collateral damage, costing the Salvation Army some $5,000 in donations to the Red Kettle Campaign, presumably because folks couldn't get out and give.
Batavia Daily News for Wednesday: New hires at the Batavia Salvation Army
Two new paid employees and a volunteer have joined the staff at the Salvation Army in Batavia for the holiday season, according to the Daily News. Joan Stevens, Suzanne Wheeler and Mike Morasco bring diverse experience to the crew. Check out the article by Virginia Kropf for more on the new hires.
In other news, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America will host free memory screenings from 9:00am to 1:00pm on Tuesday at Kmart, 8363 Lewiston Road, in Batavia.
We encourage you to pick up a copy of the Daily News at your local newsstand. Or, better yet, subscribe at BataviaNews.com.
An urgent call for bell ringers
From the Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army's bellringing effort in Batavia is crucial this year, announced Major Leonard Boynton, director of the local Salvation Army.
“We need to get as many bellringers as we possibly can due to dramatic increases in requests for assistance. With the slowing economy, greater numbers of individuals and families have been coming to The Salvation Army asking for food, rent and utilities assistance, prescriptions and emergency housing,” noted Boynton.
The emergency family assistance office is assisting record numbers of families. In September we assisted 200 families, up from 110 in September 2007. In October 266 families in October, up from 231 last year. Holiday assistance applications have already risen over the 200 mark, toward an expected 700 to 800 families, said Boynton.
“We need groups and individuals to help raise the funds necessary to assist these families in need,” said the Major.
To ring the bells, volunteers can call the local Salvation Army directly at 343-6284. They can also call The Red Kettle Center, 24/7 at 1-877-764-7259 or go on-line to www.redkettles.org.
“We need volunteers at all times at a variety of locations. Please call as soon as possible,” added Major Boynton. “We thank all the caring people of this community who never forget those less fortunate.”
Looking for a Few Good Bell Ringers
As the holiday season fast approaches, the Salvation Army readies its legion of bell ringers for the ubiquitous Red Kettle Campaign. Volunteers are needed, and anyone in the community can sign up.
From the press release:
“We call upon all businesses, families, individuals, clubs, churches, unions and associations – including sororities, fraternities, schools, business and civic organizations – to consider scheduling some time to ring the bells,” said Major Leonard Boynton, officer-in-charge of The Salvation Army in Batavia.
“A successful campaign is especially critical this year,” said Boynton. “With the economic downturn, this winter is going to be very difficult for many struggling families. We are already experiencing increases in requests for assistance and we anticipate that the demand will continue."
“The appeal of the kettle campaign is that it is very personal. When we see someone at a kettle, we know this is our neighbor, someone who is willing to sacrifice a few hours for those less fortunate or those having a temporary crisis.”
Money raised during The Red Kettle Campaign is used throughout the year to provide services to families, individuals, children and senior citizens. Programs include: emergency family assistance, older adult luncheons & activities, and after school youth programs.
Any person or organization wishing to help may call the local Salvation Army at 343-6284 or The Red Kettle Center, anytime at 1-877-764-7259. Information and volunteer forms are also available on-line at www.redkettles.org.
The Red Kettle Campaign began in 1891 when a Salvation Army captain in San Francisco resolved to provide a free Christmas dinner to the area's poor. Kettles now are used around the world, including Korea, Japan, Chile and Europe. Everywhere, public contributions to the kettles enable The Salvation Army to bring the spirit of Christmas to people who would otherwise be forgotten - the aged and lonely, the ill, poor and disadvantaged, and inmates of jails and other institutions.
News roundup: Coat drive kicks off
The Salvation Army has begun its annual Coats for Others donation campaign, according to WBTA's Dan Fischer. Folks can drop off their unneeded winter coats at the Salvation Army Center at 529 E. Main St. Those in need can arrange to pick up coats by contacting that same office (343-6284) or by stopping by. No appointment is necessary. The campaign will run through February.
