FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact:
Audrey Esther
Community Relations Director
The Salvation Army Ozark Area Coordination
Office: (417) 862-5509 ext. 116
Cell: (417) 763-1357
Audrey_Esther@usc.salvationarm y.org
Volunteers & school supplies are needed to help local Ozarks' children
Springfield, MO (June 16, 2012) Although summer has just begun, The Salvation Army is already gearing up for its 2012 Back-to-School Assistance Program.
Each year, The Salvation Army helps hundreds of local children by providing them with basic school supplies, backpacks, shoes and clothing.
"We hope that the assistance we provide helps level the playing field for these children," Claire Grainger, Springfield Corps Officer said. "While we can't supply everything, we can help with the very basics and for some these basic items are all that they'll have."
But helping so many requires the help of many others.
Numerous volunteers are needed from Saturday July 28th through Monday July 30th to help pack backpacks, sort school supplies and act as ‘shopping buddies' for the children & families receiving assistance. To sign-up to volunteer or for more information please call (417) 862-5509 ext. 116.
In addition to volunteers, school supplies such as backpacks, notebooks, crayons and folders are also needed to help make the program a success. Donations can be dropped off anytime at The Salvation Army located at 1707 W. Chestnut Expressway. For a complete list of needed school supply donations please visit http://www.salvationarmy.org/ springfield-mo
Last year, more than 900 local children were helped by The Salvation Army's back-to-school assistance program.
To support the year-round outreach of The Salvation Army Ozark Area Coordination financial contributions can be sent to The Salvation Army, P.O Box 9685 in Springfield MO, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or by visiting http://donate.salvationarmyusa.org - 82¢ of every dollar goes directly toward programs & services that help local Ozarks residents in need.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 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 The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org.
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