Doing the Most Good
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:19 am by Eva Aguirre Cooper under News
We are all familiar with the bell ringing volunteers braving the cold next to a Salvation Army’s Red Kettle during the holiday season. What happens when they don’t reach their goal? Even in these tough economic times, the Salvation Army keeps going. In an effort to help close the gap they will be holding their Second annual Doing the Most Good Radiothon event with WLHT 95.7 New Lite Rock. They will be at Woodland Mall on-air for twelve hours / 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday, January 23, 2009.
The goal for the Red Kettle Campaign this past year was $1.45 million. Though they fell short, they hope to raise $25,000 to match Bob Israel’s challenge gift of $25,000 towards their Annual Fund.
These funds help maintain Booth Family Services which focuses on supporting families and strengthening community in the forms of housing programs, teen parent services, emergency food, and health services.
Booth serves as the central intake for those with a housing crisis in Kent County, providing more than 1,200 households with a housing assessment. The Teen Parent Center provided temporary housing to 28 teen moms and their children.
Over 3,000 households received emergency food. 1,060 households received utility assistance – over 830 of these households did not need additional utility assistance within the following six months.
The Clinic provided over 250 young women and teens with prenatal care and almost 95% of the births were at or over a healthy gestational weight.
The Salvation Army’s Turning Point served over 1,800 substance abuse clients with inpatient and outpatient detoxification services and counseling.
In addition, the Grand Rapids area Corp Community Centers served hundreds of area seniors, youth and families through programs and services which impact body, mind and soul.
How can we help? Donations and pledges can be made through credit card (call-in phone number: 1-877-987-9347 and 1-800-SAL-ARMY is always available)
Online at sawmni.org
Cash / checks / credit cards at Woodland Mall broadcast site on day of Radiothon or The Salvation Army, 1215 East Fulton Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 anytime
A private accounting firm is tabulating and securing all donations.
I would like to see the bell ringing go from Thanksgiving until New years Day. The Salvation Army does wonderful work. Maybe we need to see more red kettle’s. It doesn’t hurt anyone to put in a few cents. Two years ago, I was a bell ringer. It was a blessing, and I was rewarded in many ways by God. We have to give of ourselfs to be blessed. If you are with out a job, do some work in the community, do something for others. Please support The Salvation Army.
I think this is a wonderful thing to do. I also think that the WOOD bloggers might want to rethink what they say on their political attack postings and start thinking about what good they can do for our community. I for one find it difficult to post a positive side here and was glad to find this. Please all remember that regardless of your political leanings, we all must strive to help one another. I wish the bloggers here on WOOD would start leaning towards a new postive America instead of posting inflammatory things about the Democratic party and Obama. We all need to unite and do what is best for America and all citizens and the World realizing that a good person is one who cares about all persons regardless of their political affiliation or religion.
we as citizens of this world and of the state , the county and city of grand rapids need to show alot more compasion to those of us who are hurting because of outside problems like the economy , drugs or vets that come home disabled and find they don’t have a job or worse . we in kent county are blessed to one of the few counties that are resource rich , however the way that the resources are used need to be steered to do the most good and right now the majorrity are but there is greater need for the resources that are not going into helping the poor , the drug users who actually want to get better and to the ones that are suffering not only with mental illness but the stigma taht is attached with it.
Michigan Grandma – pointless to post your comment like that here. This is about The Salvation Army, not politics.
I am aware this is the Salvation Army and not Politics. My Point is that this is what we all should think about and be focused on the sites here and not attacks which so often occur regardless of the subject. I was hoping to not turn this into attacks, etc and just allow the good of Salvation Army to be in the spotlight.