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Released 29 November 2012
Media Contacts:
Bob Brady, The Salvation Army
Phone: 202-289-4001
bbrady@xenophonstrategies.com
Faithe Colas, The Salvation Army Milwaukee County
Phone: 414-531-6363
faithe_colas@usc.salvationarmy.org
Tara Raddohl, Walmart
Phone: 1-800-331-0085
news.walmart.com/reporter
Walmart & The Salvation Army Partner For 122nd Annual Red Kettle Campaign
Red Kettle Donations and “Fill the Truck” Toy Drives to Help Provide a Cheerful Christmas to Children Nationwide
Alexandria,
VA (November 28, 2012) – Walmart and The Salvation Army announced today
that they are partnering this holiday season for the 122nd Annual Red
Kettle Campaign. Walmart and Sam’s Club stores across the country will
host The Salvation Army’s iconic red kettles and bell ringers again this
holiday season between Friday, November 23rd and Monday, December 24th.
Last year, Walmart and Sam’s Club helped The Salvation Army raise more
than $46 million—nearly one-third of all money raised. All donations
made to the red kettles will remain in the local communities in which
they were collected, and help The Salvation Army provide food, clothing,
shelter, financial assistance and other services to 30 million people a
year. In addition, on Saturday, December 8, more than 2,500 Walmart
stores will participate in “Fill the Truck” toy drives to help provide
new toys and coats to children in need on Christmas.
“As we
gather with friends and family to celebrate the holidays this year, it’s
important for us to remember our neighbors in need,” said Sylvia
Mathews Burwell, president of the Walmart Foundation. “By working with
The Salvation Army and our generous shoppers, we hope to be able to
provide families nationwide with basic need items like food, clothing
and shelter, as well as bring more smiles to thousands of children on
Christmas day.”
“Fill the Truck” events will begin at 9:00 a.m.
and run until 5:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, December 8 at select
Walmart stores. The events are open to the general public who would like
to donate new toys and coats to children who take part in Salvation
Army programs year round. Upon arrival, shoppers will receive a list of
suggested gifts to add to the truck or collection bin at the stores.
Once the donation receptacles are full, The Salvation Army will bring
the donations to their local units and distribute the gifts throughout
the Christmas season as part of their support to local families in need.
Collections are expected to provide gifts to more than 10,000 children
nationwide.
This year, the Walmart Foundation also made a $1
million donation to The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. The
donation will be split among the four Salvation Army Territories and
support feeding programs, including meal programs for youths. Last year,
The Salvation Army served nearly 58 million meals to children and
adults in need.
Notably, 81 percent of Salvation Army programs
saw an increase in need among families with children due to the
recession in 2011, according to “Growing Up in a Downturn,”a Salvation
Army report from earlier this year. The report also found that 56
percent of Salvation Army youth programs were operating at or beyond
capacity, which includes feeding, education, athletic, artistic and
religious programs. As a result of the recession’s lingering impact, The
Salvation Army expects the need to continue this Christmas season.
“For the past several years, there has been a growing need in America,
and social service organizations like The Salvation Army have seen this
demand first hand,” said Major George Hood, National Community Relations
and Development Secretary for The Salvation Army. “The ‘Fill the Truck’
event with Walmart will help The Salvation Army meet that need this
Christmas, and provide something special to children in need.”
From
its humble origin as a fundraiser started by a Salvation Army captain
in San Francisco in 1891, the Red Kettle Campaign has grown into one of
the most recognizable and important charitable campaigns in the United
States. As part of the campaign, more than 25,000 Salvation Army workers
and volunteers spread throughout the country to ring bells daily and
solicit spare change donations to the iconic red kettles from holiday
shoppers. In 2011, the campaign raised more than $147.6 million
nationwide, a new record supported by the public’s nickels, dimes,
quarters, dollars, credit cards (and the occasional diamond ring or gold
tooth) all collected and used to help people in the communities where
they were raised. Last year, the funds helped The Salvation Army provide
food, clothing, toys and other assistance to 30 million Americans in
need.
For more information on The Salvation Army and the Red Kettle Kickoff, please visit http://blog.salvationarmyusa.org, www.facebook.com/salvationarmyusa or www.twitter.com/salvationarmyus.
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About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart
and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support initiatives that are
helping people live better around the globe. In May 2010, Walmart and
its Foundation made a historic pledge of $2 billion through 2015 to
fight hunger in the U.S. The Walmart Foundation also supports education,
workforce development, environmental sustainability, and health and
wellness initiatives. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.
About The Salvation Army
The
Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church
established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name
without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States.
Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army
each year through the broadest array of social services that range from
providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance
for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter
to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents
of every dollar spent is used to support those services in 5,000
communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.