Salvation Army

Volunteer coaches needed for youth basketball league

2012-01-27T23:59:05Z

The Salvation Army of Sacramento is looking for some volunteers to coach in its youth basketball league (13 and under, 10 and under, and 7 and under).

League organizers are seeking individuals with a basketball background and experience managing youth activities.

Games are all played at The Salvation Army Ray Robinson Oak Park Community Center (located on the corner of Alhambra and Broadway).

For more information, please call 916-469-4620.

Disclosure: Syd Fong is the public relations director for The Salvation Army of Sacramento County. For more information about The Salvation Army, log onto www.salarmysacto.org or join the facebook page www.facebook.com/salvationarmysacramento

Limitations not stopping their bell ringing efforts

2011-12-10T17:36:46Z

“It’s getting cold out here.”

Kelsey Cottle uttered this while ringing The Salvation Army bell outside Macy’s at Sunrise Mall. Yet her fellow bell ringers did not care--they were having the time of their lives.

“Yeah, they’re having fun,” Cottle said.

Meet Carl Virgin and Eulogio Lizarraga--the jubilant bell ringers. Both have cerebral palsy and are confined to wheelchairs, but they do not let it deter their efforts to give back.

“It just a good time for them to get out and people to see them,” said Cottle, who is Carl’s personal attendant through S.T.E.P. (Strategy To Empower People) services. “It’s great that they get to see them so happy and that they can do this (volunteer) like everybody else.”

Cottle recruited Carl for the bell ringing opportunity last year.

“My church talked about a need to volunteer in your community,” she recalled. “So I thought of him (Carl). I came to him and his roommate at that time about ringing the bell, and they were very receptive to that idea. I talked to their families and the people from S.T.E.P., and they all agreed that this would be a good thing for them to do.”

This year, Carl recruited his current roomate, Eulogio, to ring bells for a two-hour shift, all the time smiling and spreading some holiday cheer to all of those who walked by their red kettle.

“You can tell when they’re happy,” Cottle said. “Even though they can’t use words as much, they can get their feelings across.”

And the donors appreciated their hard work.

“I wanted to come by and say hello to them,” said Theresa, who came with her daughter to donate to the kettle. “It means more to me to see them, with their challenges, volunteering their time. It was great to see (them).”

Cottle said Carl and Eulogio may ring the bell again before the end of this Christmas season. But, without a doubt, they will be back ringing next year.

“We’ve talked about it,” Cottle said. Then turning to Carl and Eulogio, she asked, “Are we coming back again?”

“Sure,” Eulogio said … with a smile.

Salvation Army seeking donated turkeys for Thanksgiving meal

2011-11-14T17:23:18Z

Wanted: turkeys or ham.

That is what The Salvation Army needs for its upcoming Thanksgiving community meal.

"We need some additional donation so we can feed anyone looking for a hot meal this Thanksgiving," said Captain Hendrk Sumter, Salvation Army Sacramento County Coordinator. "Every bit helps when we are serving a lot of people."

More than 500 are expected to come to The Salvation Army Emergency Shelter in downtown Sacramento for the annual free meal. The donated meat will used for that day and to feed the clients from the shelter program.

Last week, California State Automobile Association of Northern California helped the cause by donating 31 turkeys.

Information about how to donate:

Drop off location: 1200 North B Street, Sacrametno
Days and Time: Donations accepted everyday til Thanksgiving. 6 am to 6 pm.

Information about free Thanksgiving Meal:

Location: 1200 North B Street, Sacramento
Date: Thursday, November 24
Time: 11:30 am to 1:30 pm

Handbag auction assisting Salvation Army programs

2011-10-20T00:43:14Z

More than 200 handbags were up for grabs during the October 15 Helping Handbags luncheon and auction.

Hosted by The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, a volunteer group made of local business women and retirees, the event had nearly 500 attendees pack the Radisson Hotel grand ballroom to check out the seventh annual live and silent auctions.

“It exceeded my dreams,” said Laurel Speier, Helping Handbags event chairperson. “You could see the ladies here in attendance had a lot of fun.”

More than $75,000 was raised. All of the proceeds will go to Salvation Army’s programs for women and children in the Sacramento area.

“Many of us here are blessed to have (comfortable) lives,” Speier said, “To not give back would be a travesty. “

Some notable items were auctioned off included: Valentino, Coach, and Michael Kors. A handbag donated by singer Linda Ronstandt was also included in the auction.

Salvation Army opens housing complex for homeless families

2011-09-22T00:42:04Z

The Salvation Army officially opened its new E. Claire Raley Transitional Living Complex on September 20. The 35-unit center, located near I-80 and Watt Ave., will house families who were homeless.

Each family had qualified for this housing program through The Salvation Army’s Family Service Department. All participating families may live in the units from six months to two years. Case workers will work constantly with each program participant to find permanent housing and employment.

The living complex is also a clean and sober program. For those who have a history of drug or alcohol abuse, recovery and prevention meetings will be available to them.

The new program is a blessing for 32-year-old Sunnie. She, along with her two children, recently moved into the housing complex. Prior to her participation in this program, Sunnie struggled with drugs and hopping from one shelter to another.

“They’re (Salvation Army) giving me a chance to get myself together,” Sunnie said. “It’s a way to not go down the same road I went through before. I can get my education, get a job, and get back on my feet and not worry about having a place to stay.”

More than $3 million was raised to purchase the property and start the housing program.

“The need for transitional housing for families in Sacramento is huge,” said Major Douglas Riley, Salvation Army Del Oro Divisional Commander. “To keep families together is critical these days. To help them in times of trouble and turmoil, that’s why we are here for.”

Joyce Raley Teel, Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors for Raley's Family of Fine Stores, donated $2 million toward the project’s capital campaign. The living center is named in honor of Mrs. Teel’s late mother, E. Claire Raley.

“I think it’s going to be a wonderful experience for these people who had such a difficult past,” Teel said. “I’m very proud of this program. I’m glad my family could make a difference, along with many other donors.”

The donation was also made to recognize the work of The Salvation Army, who assisted E. Claire Raley’s family when she was a youth.

“My mother told me that The Salvation Army helped her family out when times were tough,” Teel said. “For some reason, I never forgot that. I just have a great admiration for them. Any disaster, they’re there. It impressed me, and here I am, trying to do my part and give back.”

Youngsters help to clean up Salvation Army playground

2011-08-30T23:59:35Z

“There was a lot of weed growing. It was really dirty.”

That is the way 16-year-old Brianna described the playground area at The Salvation Army Oak Park campus.

“Just didn’t look good,” she said.

But that changed on Saturday when Brianna and nearly 20 other youngsters from The Salvation Army youth, church and education programs volunteered to help spruce things up.

In a community event called “Together We Grow”, the kids, along with Salvation Army staff and other volunteers, worked collectively to take out the weeds, plant vegetable seeds and clean up all of the playground area.

“We’re giving young people a good example of working together,” Luisa Lose, Salvation Army community center coordinator. “It’s also great that they’re learning about growing plants in the garden and healthy eating, as well.”

In all, the project took more than three hours to finish, with the youth doing the lion’s share of the work.

“These kids were amazingly focused,” said Rosella Shapiro, master gardener from the Sacramento County UC Cooperative Extension Service. “I was stunned at how interested they were in pulling up weeds and (discovering) the bugs that came from the ground.”

For Brianna, however, this day was much more than just a volunteer project.

“This brought people together and kept them out of trouble. It was also very spiritual because it really brought us closer to God.”

Volunteers needed for set up new transitional housing

2011-07-27T18:07:14Z

The Salvation Army of Sacramento County is looking for volunteers on Friday, July 29 and Thursday, August 4 to help with the set-up of its new transitional housing facility. The 35-unit complex, located near I-80 and Watt Ave., will provide reduced-cost transitional housing for working families with children.

Volunteers are needed to help unload boxes of furniture, move them into the units, assemble beds and tables, and collect packaging for recycling.

The weather will be warm, but there is a lot of shade outside and air conditioning inside!
Lunch will be provided along with plenty of cold water.
Dress: Volunteers must wear closed toed rubber soled shoes. No flip flops or sandals, please.
Equipment: If you have your own furniture moving dolly, that would be very helpful.

The greatest need will be...

This Friday July 29, 2011
Morning Shift:
9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Afternoon Shift:
12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Another shipment of furniture will be coming ...

Next Thursday, August 4, 2011
Morning Shift:
9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Afternoon Shift
12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Location:
Salvation Army Transitional Housing for Families
3845 Annadale Lane
Sacramento CA 95838

IMPORTANT: The property does not have signage that indicates Salvation Army.
Look for "Renaissance Court Apartment"

Driving Directions:
Interstate 80 at Watt Avenue
East on Edison , then left (north) on Annadale Lane (map)

To register as a volunter, please visit Hands On Sacramento's website.

German delegation volunteering at The Salvation Army

2011-07-01T22:47:42Z

A German delegation came to volunteer at The Salvation Army’s Family Services facility in Sacramento on June 30. The visit was set up by the Northern California World Trade Center, which is hosting the three member party.

The group is made up of two state parliament members, Markus Blume and Roland Theis, and the mayor of the town Monheim am Rhein, Daniel Zimmermann. They, along with nine other volunteers, spent nearly two hours creating 342 food boxes in the Salvation Army warehouse.

“People here (the volunteers) are really excited to contribute and help others,” said Blume, member of the Bavarian State Parliament. “We’re really happy to come out and help in some way.”

Sacramento was the group’s latest stop through the United States. The delegation was invited to America at the auspices of the Department of State, under a themed program entitled “Overcoming Economic and Social Challenges in the Wake of the Financial and Economic Crises”. The program encompasses the party visiting five different cities during this tour.

“We see that many in California need the strong work of The Salvation Army,” Blume said. “The Salvation Army does a fantastic job in assisting and supporting the poor and underprivileged.

For Doreen Abbott, a longtime Salvation Army volunteer, spending time with the German politicians was inspiring.

“They’re interested in what we’re doing,” Abbott said. “It was fun for us to share what it is like to give back to the community. They seemed to understand that (concept) and they wanted to be a part of that. It made our time together a lot of fun.”

Blume has also found some encouragement from the tour of the United States.

“We realize that the DNA of America is an attitude of not giving up,” he said. “I’m pretty sure that you’ll see a strong economy recovery sooner or later, regardless of what Washington is doing. That’s because I believe in the people of the United States.”

Syd Fong is the public relations director for The Salvation Army of Sacramento County. For more information about The Salvation Army, log onto www.salarmysacto.org or join the facebook page www.facebook.com/salvationarmysacramento

Stuart Little Comes To The Salvation Army

2011-06-29T22:55:03Z

Today, the kids from The Salvation Army’s day care and summer day camp programs had a chance to see Stuart Little. Not the movie, but an actual live production, performed by the American River College Theatre Arts Department.

The performance took place at the Salvation Army’s Oak Park campus.

“It’s great that we can bring this to a warm and friendly environment,” said Tracy Martin Shearer, director of the play. “That’s the thing about the arts; it brings joy, entertainment, education and excitement. We often find that more than half of children watching had not seen a play until our performance."

The latest presentation was part of the theatre arts department’s “Children’s Theatre Tour” in which the performers (consisted of nine American River students) take the show to a local elementary school and education program. Most times, the schools are charged a small fee for the performance, but Shearer wanted to do something different for The Salvation Army.

“We wanted to donate the show for the kids this morning,” Shearer said. “It looks like The Salvation Army is doing a great thing for the neighborhood and for the children involved."

The 50-minute play of the classic E.B. White children’s novel was not your typical show. It was very interactive. Some of the children in attendance were asked to participate on stage or interact with the characters during the play.

“This was a great way to expose our children to the arts and for them to see a live theatre production,” said Sonja Stires, Salvation Army’s Director of Programs for the Oak Park campus.

The ARC students will continue performing “Stuart Little” at least four more times in July at the Fair Oaks Community Clubhouse. All of those performances are open to the public.

Syd Fong is the director of public relations for The Salvation Army-Sacramento County Operations. For more information about The Salvation Army in Sacramento, log onto www.salarmysacto.org. For more information about the Stuart Little live show, you can call (916) 224-7947.

Grand Opening For New Salvation Army Education Facility in Oak Park

2011-06-23T00:14:06Z

After nine months of construction, The Salvation Army opened the doors to its new Child Development Center in Oak Park today.

The education facility is two stories high and nearly 14,000 sq ft, and it is the home for The Army’s day care and after-school programs.

“To see this come into reality is incredible,” said David Bentley, Salvation Army Sacramento County Coordinator. “We have a new education building that can make a real impact for many families in our area.”

The Child Development Center replaces an old 2,400 sq ft modular building that used to house the day care program for 24 years. A capital campaign was started in 2008 to raise the necessary funds for the construction of a new facility.

“It was not the best time for a capital campaign three years ago,” Bentley said. “But we needed to move forward because of the need in the community. We were very blessed that so many stepped up and assisted us with this project.”

In all, the construction cost $3 million.

The more spacious facility allows The Salvation Army the opportunity for expansion in both education programs. According to Salvation Army officials, the plans are to double the day care and after-school capacity.

“I’m really excited about the possibilities,” said Isa Losè, a mother of two children in the after-school program. “There’s just more room for the kids and more tools for them to learn.”

Since the start of the construction, the day care and after-school programs have been operating within The Salvation Army Community Center. The students will transition into the new building by the first week of July.

Disclosure: Syd Fong is the Public Relations Director at The Salvation Army Del Oro Division, Sacramento County Operations.

Nearly 1,000 Attending 4th Annual Homeless Connect

2011-05-24T00:40:10Z

“This suit is not bad.”

Theoplus Dubose-Harvey was searching for some new work clothes on Saturday. He hoped to find the right business suit for the next job interview.

“See, I got some shoes to go along with that,” he said.

Dubose-Harvey believes the new attire will help change his life. Because right now, he is unemployed and homeless.

“Times are tough, “said Dubose-Harvey, a 55-year-old former state worker. “That’s why I appreciate the help I got here.”

The assistance he is speaking of was the fourth annual Homeless Connect on May 21 at Sacramento City College. Dubose-Harvey was one of nearly 1,000 homeless individuals and families who attended this direct service fair.

“I’m thankful for the suit and shoes I got from here,” he said. “This event shows that even under tough circumstances, I’m not alone.”

More than 60 different service agencies and organizations, along with over 400 community volunteers, provided the homeless with access to housing referrals and services; health screenings, including dental and vision screenings; mental health services; Social Security benefits; HIV and STI testing; California identification cards; foot washing and haircuts; bike repairs; veterans services; legal assistance; job readiness and clothing closets.

Homeless Connect was organized by Sacramento Steps Forward.

“We’re delighted that we can make difference in our community,” said Tim Brown, Sacramento Steps Forward executive director. “I appreciate all of our agencies and volunteers coming together and making a difference with our homeless neighbors.”

According to Sacramento Steps Forward, since January 2007, chronic homelessness in Sacramento County has decreased by 50.8%. Since January 2009, overall homelessness has decreased by 15.8%.

“It’s our goal, through efforts like Homeless Connect, that we, as a community, can once and for all end homelessness,” Brown said.

The Salvation Army was the presenting sponsor of the event, providing lunch, food bags and new socks to all of the event attendees.

“It’s an honor to be part of the Homeless Connect event again,” said David Bentley, Salvation Army Sacramento County Coordinator. “We know ending homelessness is not easy, but this collaboration of all the agencies and volunteers shows that the Sacramento community is stepping up to find that solution.”

Students Weatherize Salvation Army Shelter

2011-03-26T00:31:01Z

Spring break is usually associated with traveling and having fun.

Well, a group of college students took that concept to a whole another level.

Twenty-five students from the Energy Service Corps spent their time off to help weatherize different facilities throughout the state of California. The latest was a stop at The Salvation Army Center of Hope shelter in downtown Sacramento on March 25.

“We decided to come here because they (Salvation Army) have done so much for the community,” said Abbygail Williams, Energy Service Corps member and UC Davis student. “The students just wanted to give them back something in return.”

This weatherization event was part of the Energy Alternative Spring Break Service Trip, a new program in California to train students from all across the state to help their communities reduce energy use. The project was spearheaded by the Energy Service Corps, a joint venture between the statewide public interest group CALPIRG (California Public Interest Research Group Foundation) and AmeriCorps.

“We are showing some simple steps to be more energy efficient,” Williams said. “It’s a good message to promote. And we hope the money saved can then be used for The Salvation Army to continue its good work.”

At the event, the students caulked around windows, weather stripped doorways and installed CFL light bulbs. Interns from the UC Davis campus did some fundraising for the materials used at the shelter.

“This was a tremendous effort by all of the Energy Service Corps,” said David Bentley, Salvation Army Sacramento County coordinator. “To see these students take time off to improve the conditions of this shelter was absolutely encouraging.”

The students from the Energy Service Corps represented various colleges in California, including UC Davis and UC Merced.

Sacramento was the final destination of the Energy Alternative Spring Break Service Trip. The students also helped weatherize facilities in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Merced and San Francisco.

For information about the Energy Service Corps, log onto www.energyservicecorps.org

Syd Fong is the public relations director for The Salvation Army-Sacramento. For more information about The Salvation Army, log onto www.salarmysacto.org

1,600 Local Families Receiving Food Assistance at Distribution

2011-01-19T23:50:36Z

“This helps me a lot.”

Charmar Randle was grateful for the assistance she just received. She was one of 1,600 families to receive food and other essentials from the January 18 Feed The Children distribution at Cal Expo.

“The economy is so bad and that’s why you see so many families out here,” said Randle, a Sacramento resident. “It’s good that they are having this (distribution) right now in order to help those who are in need.”

Feed The Children, an international relief organization, delivered four semi tractor-trailers full of food and other products to the event. The distribution was part of Feed The Children’s Americans Feeding Americans Caravan, which has helped more than 200,000 families across the country since it began in 2009.

“We got to see a lot of families getting blessed today,” said Aaron Wynn, Feed The Children event coordinator. “What we’re trying to do is show them that someone cares and that someone understands the hard times they are going through.”

Feed The Children agency partner, The Salvation Army-Sacramento, identified the recipient families. Each family received a 25-pound box of food, a 10-pound box of personal care items and a box of Avon products. The boxes are designed to help a family for up to one week.

“With the toiletries I got,” Randle said, “it means that I’m saving some cash. The extra money you have left can go for gas or bills or whatever else.”

Nearly 50 volunteers helped out with the distribution, including several members of the Sacramento Kings. DeMarcus Cousins, Hassan Whiteside, Pooh Jeter and Carl Landry assisted with delivering the donated items to each recipient.

“When I heard about this event,” Kings forward Landry said, “I said count me in (to volunteer). It’s all about giving back to the community and giving back to those who support you. These folks (recipient families) are so sweet, so humble and so grateful for the little things. It just makes me happy to be around them.”

This was the second consecutive year in which Feed The Children and The Salvation Army partnered together for a food distribution.

“We were very pleased to be part of this event again,” said David Bentley, Salvation Army Sacramento County coordinator. “This was a tremendous partnership we had with Feed The Children and the Sacramento Kings. I hope we were able to provide some joy and hope to all of the families we served today.”

Syd Fong is the public relations director for The Salvation Army-Sacramento. For more information about The Salvation Army, log onto www.salarmysacto.org

Realtors Presenting A Large Donation to The Salvation Army

2010-12-08T01:39:11Z

“This is amazing!”

That was the reaction Major Jeanne Stromberg had when The Salvation Army of Sacramento received a check of $80,000 from the Sacramento Association of REALTORS Christmas CanTree. The check presentation was made during the CanTree’s annual dedication breakfast on December 7.

The CanTree committee raised the money throughout the whole year by utilizing various fundraisers.

“We wanted to do our very best for The Salvation Army,” said CanTree committee chair Tim McGuire. “The committee tried plenty of fundraisers like a crab feed and a wine tasting event. We worked hard and didn’t stop until we got to the goal that we had set.”

The donation was $15,000 more than last year’s total.

“I was totally blown away by this effort,” said Major Stromberg, Salvation Army Divisional Secretary. “In a struggling economy, to have the Can Tree raise this much, it just shows how hard each of them worked to achieve this goal. We are truly blessed.”

The Christmas CanTree project has collected more than $2 million in the last 28 years. The money will be used to purchase food for The Salvation Army Christmas Assistance and the year-round food pantry program.

Syd Fong is the public relations director for The Salvation Army. For more informaton about The Salvation Army, log onto www.salarmysacto.org

Salvation Army Receiving Large Turkey Donation

2010-11-12T00:41:00Z

The Salvation Army in Sacramento received more than 700 pounds of frozen turkeys from California State Automobile Association of Northern California on November 11. The turkeys were delivered to The Salvation Army’s B Street Center of Hope emergency shelter in downtown Sacramento.

The donation was part of AAA’s annual Thanksgiving turkey delivery project, an effort to help meet the needs of various communities during the holiday season. More than 10 tons of turkeys were distributed by AAA to 26 Northern California, Nevada and Utah non-profits.

“Our point of view is to give back to the communities we’re serving,” said Greg Jennings, AAA district sales manager. “The Salvation Army does a very good job of taking care individuals who are less fortunate, and that’s why we are a proud partner with them every holiday season.”

The turkeys donated in Sacramento will be prepared and served for a free Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, November 25 at the Center of Hope shelter. Anyone from the Sacramento community can be served a meal from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. that day.

“We are blessed to receive this incredible donation from AAA,” said David Bentley, Salvation Army Sacramento County coordinator. “They are a major reason why The Salvation Army has been able to feed hundreds of individuals every Thanksgiving.”

This is the 14th consecutive year AAA has donated turkeys to The Salvation Army. Last year, the donation helped more than 600 individuals receive a Thanksgiving meal.

SydFong is the public relations director for The Salvation Army of Sacramento. For more information about The Salvation Army, log onto www.salarmysacto.org

Elementary Students Donating Socks to Salvation Army

2010-10-26T20:05:13Z

Socks were overflowing at the Foulks Ranch Elementary School in Elk Grove on October 22. It was the culmination of a three-week effort in which students from five Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) elementary schools and six other schools in Galt participated in the second annual Socktoberfest donation drive.

During Socktoberfest, students collected socks to help supplement donations distributed by The Salvation Army. Sock bins were placed at each of the schools until the end of the collection.

More than 1,600 pairs of socks were collected.

"I want to thank all of the schools and students involved for another great effort in this year's Socktoberfest," said David Bentley, Salvation Army Sacramento County Coordinator. "The sock donations will go a long way to assist many families in need. Also, it's a great way to keep them warm, especially when we are entering the winter season."

Socktoberfest was spearheaded by EGUSD servicing learning coordinator and sixth grade teacher William Utile.

“We gave the kids the opportunity to help out and make a difference,” Utile said. “I was really excited to see more teachers come on board and get their classes involved.”

In addition to the sock collection, service learning teachers created a curriculum for the students featuring Sock Sally, the sock puppet. Lessons cover mathematics, poetry and reading.

Socks can still be purchased online for donation to Socktoberfest. To donate online, visit http://socksally.theclassroom.org/sockdonationorder.html.

Syd Fong is the public relations director for The Salvation Army in Sacramento. For more information about The Salvation Army, log onto www.salarmysacto.org

Handbag Fundraiser Helping Salvation Army Programs

2010-10-20T17:54:54Z

“I was thrilled. I called my husband immediately.”

That is the reaction Sacramento resident Cindy Nelson had after she outbid other ladies for a Ferragamo handbag during the live auction portion at the sixth annual Salvation Army Helping Handbag luncheon on October 16.

Nelson was one of nearly 400 attendees who came to the Radisson Hotel for the annual fundraiser.

“We have more ladies than in years past,” Major Colleen Riley, Salvation Army Divisional Director of women’s ministries and Women’s Auxiliary representative. “The event was well organized and the ladies were excited to bid on the purses.”

More than 200 items were offered during the event’s live and silent auctions, including designer handbags, local celebrities’ gently-used purses, donated gift certificates, and items given by local businesses. Some notable items that auctioned off at Helping Handbags included items donated by singer Linda Ronstandt, District Attorney Jan Scully and community leader Joyce Raley Reel.

In all, Helping Handbags grossed more than $40,000. Proceeds from the luncheon will go toward Salvation Army’s programs for women and children in the Sacramento area.

“We’re obviously supporting a great charity,” Nelson said. “It’s a lot fun, you meet lots of nice ladies, you see some familiar faces, and hear a great testimony.”

The luncheon fundraiser was organized by The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, a volunteer program made up of a group of local business women who believe in the mission of The Salvation Army, and donate their time and financial support to develop fund raising events like Helping Handbags.

“Behind the scenes, a lot of women put in many hours to organize this incredible event,” Major Riley said. “They truly put their heart and soul into this one.”

Syd Fong is the public relations director for The Salvation Army. For more information about The Salvation Army, please log onto www.salarmysacto.org

Groundbreaking for Salvation Army Education Building in Oak Park

2010-09-22T20:33:08Z

The Salvation Army of Sacramento County hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its new child development center in the Oak Park area on September 21. The new facility, located on the corner of Alhambra Blvd. and Broadway, will be two stories high and nearly 14,000 sq ft, which is nearly six times larger than the old education building. The child development center will be the home for The Salvation Army’s day care and after-school programs.

“It’s a long time coming,” said Major Tedd Lowcock, Salvation Army Sacramento Corps officer. “We had been operating in an older building for years. So to have something new in which you don’t have to worry about and to have the extra space here is pretty amazing.”

The new facility will replace an old 2,400 sq ft modular building that used to house the day care program for the last 24 years. The Salvation Army relocated the program from downtown Sacramento to the current Oak Park site in 1986.

For the last three years, The Salvation Army has worked diligently on a capital campaign to raise funds for various projects, including the child development center.

“This day is about as close as a dream come true,” said John Frisch, Salvation Army advisory board member and chairman of the capital campaign. “After all the work, all the giving by so many people, all of hours planning and soliciting, to see it finally happening is almost a spiritual experience.”

Frisch said the capital campaign has raised more than $5 million, which is more than enough to start construction.

Currently, the day care and after-school programs are being operated within The Salvation Army community center.

“There is a lot we can do with the new building,” Lowcock said. “If all goes well, we may be able to add more kids in our programs down the road.”

The construction is scheduled to last for at least the next six months.

“When this building opens,” Frisch said, “it’s going to make me happy. The kids are so adorable and so innocent, and we hope we can make a positive impact on their future.”

Syd Fong is the public relations director for The Salvation Army-Sacramento. To learn more about The Salvation Army, log onto www.salarmysacto.org

Local View of Haiti Relief

2010-07-27T17:50:00Z

More than six months after the devastating Haiti earthquake, some have wondered if there has been any progress rebuilding the country at all. It is even a question the media have posed. But if you ask Jordan Wong, he will tell you, without hesitation, there has been progress made.

Who is Jordan Wong? He is a 28-year-old Sacramento resident who recently came back from Jacmel, Haiti, after volunteering there.

“I felt a huge burden to go out of my comfort zone and to minister outside of my church,” Jordan said. “When the Haiti earthquake hit, it really got to me emotionally. So when the opportunity to go there came, I immediately said yes.”

In early June, Jordan joined a team from the Southern Baptist Convention and traveled to Jacmel. There, the team met up with The Salvation Army and helped with the construction of transitional shelters. In all, Jordan and the team of volunteers built six homes in the less than 10 days.

“Since the earthquake, they were living in tents,” he said. “It seemed to me that they (Haitians) appreciated us building some of the homes there.”

Since returning from his Haiti trip more than a month ago, Jordan has been anxious to tell people of the relief efforts there.

“If you look at some images shown by the media,” Jordan said, “it may seem like there hasn’t been much done. But on the contrary, there has been progress. Resources haven’t been wasted there. You hear the media and they talk a lot about the logistical issues. Sure, that’s true to some extent, but when it comes to agencies like The Salvation Army, they are doing the best with the resources that they have.

No matter what has been said about the Haiti relief efforts, Jordan feels things will get better there.

“I was amazed by the resiliency of the Haitian people,” he said. “Many lost their homes, lost their family members, but they seemed to have the attitude that they were going to keep on going and make this work. And it helps that people like The Salvation Army and Southern Baptist Convention are there to meet their needs, physically and spiritually.”

Syd Fong is the public relations director for The Salvation Army-Sacramento. To learn more about The Salvation Army, log onto www.salarmysacto.org

85-Year-Old Gold Medalist

2010-07-01T22:14:55Z

Eleven years. That is how long it took for 85-year-old Alice Petta-Goldie to win a gold medal at the California State Senior Games. The West Sacramento resident took home a badminton title during a weekend-long tournament in Pasadena last month.

“It was wonderful,” Alice said. “I like gold medals. They’ve been hard to come by.”

Until the recent the Senior Games, Alice had always come up short, losing to the same opponent every year.

“This lady had been beating me,” she recalled. “She was a local champ, state champ, U.S. champ, and she even traveled to other countries, and she won them all. Her being in California, (it seemed like) I was never going to get gold at all. So this win was great.”

Alice has been playing badminton since 1998, switching to that sport after 40 years of competitive tennis. In 2004, she had a chance to refine her skills when she agreed to coordinate the senior badminton activity at The Salvation Army Ray Robinson Oak Park Community Center. Since then, every week, nearly 10 people come to the community center and play for free.

“Before I came here (Salvation Army), I didn’t practice regularly,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of people come here and have fun. They have been so wonderful to us.”

Coming up for Alice is the national senior tournament next year in Houston. Until then, it is more practicing on the Salvation Army court. But if you ask Alice, she doesn’t mind spending the extra time swinging the racquet.

“I really like badminton. If you want to play, you have to do it.”

For more information about The Salvation Army senior badminton activity, log onto www.salarmysacto.org

Syd Fong is the public relations director for The Salvation Army-Sacramento.

Salvation Army celebrating 125 years in Sacramento during luncheon

2010-06-02T01:15:32Z

Billed as the largest event of its kind in California’s capital region, The Salvation Army held its 19th Annual Community Luncheon on Tuesday, June 1. The event was an opportunity to showcase its programs, give a fiscal and service report to the community, and thank and recognize the individuals and companies who, through their community service activities or programs, have shown a long history of helping people in need.

“It was wonderful to see the appreciation that people had for The Army and services we have provided for all of these years,” said Major Douglas Riley, Salvation Army Divisional Commander. “To hear so many people thank us for everything we’ve done, I have to say that we are truly honored.”

The Salvation Army also celebrated its 125th anniversary in Sacramento during the luncheon. To commemorate the moment, Congressman Dan Lungren (R-CA) presented The Salvation Army a congressional record for the years of service in the capital region.

Local attorney Gregory D. Thatch was also honored with the Spirit of Caring award for his extensive community service work and leadership.

“It’s a humbling experience for sure,” Thatch said. “But it was a great turnout, and we were able to support The Salvation Army by raising some money.”

More than 1,000 people attended this year’s luncheon, which grossed over $230,000 in proceeds to support local Salvation Army programs and services year-round.

News10’s Dale Schornack and Cristina Mendonsa served as master and mistress of ceremonies for the luncheon.

To learn more about The Salvation Army, log onto to www.salarmysacto.org. Also, become a fan of The Army's facebook page (search for Salvation Army Sacramento).

3rd Annual Homeless Connect

2010-05-24T19:47:51Z

Montrail Carr is a 29-year-old father of seven children. He and his family have been homeless for the last 13 months.

"I'm looking for housing or any kind of help," said Carr. "I have never been homeless before, so I need assistance for my family."

Carr's hope for help came one step closer recently. He was one of more than 700 homeless individuals who attended the third annual Homeless Connect on May 22 at Sacramento City College. The one day event provided direct services to the homeless in an “one stop shop” format.

With the partnership of more than 50 organizations and the aid of 500 community volunteers, Sacramento Steps Forward’s Sacramento Homeless Connect provided homeless individuals and families with access to residential assistance, health screenings, vision appointments, dental screenings, mental health services, Social Security Administration assistance, HIV tests, skin cancer screenings, California identification cards, and access to benefits, shelter, haircuts, bike and wheelchair repair and much more.

"I'm so thankful that there are so many who care about us," Carr said. "They really want us to change and get help."

The Salvation Army was the presenting sponsor of Homeless Connect, providing food and gift bags to all of the event guests.

"It's a honor and a blessing for The Salvation Army to be involved with the Homeless Connect again," said David Bentley, Salvation Army Sacramento County Coordinator. "We hope that the attendees can take advantage of all of the resources here, and hopefully, we can bring hope to them, too."

Since January 2007, chronic homelessness in Sacramento County has decreased by 35% but overall homelessness continues to rise.

"The goal of ending homelessness is an important and profound mission that requires the ideas, insights and efforts of all individuals, organizations, businesses and agencies," said Tim Brown, Director of Sacramento Steps Forward. "Sacramento Steps Forward,through its Homeless Connect project is an initiative to rally the community towards a shared and collective effort to end homelessness.”

Last year, over 700 homeless guests, 300 staff and 400 volunteers, participated in making Sacramento Homeless Connect a great success.

New Salvation Army Social Services facility

2010-05-18T23:12:08Z

“This absolutely blew me away.”

Tim Weisbeck said this after touring the new Salvation Army Family Services building in the Northern Sacramento area. He was one of nearly 100 in attendance who showed up for the grand opening of the social service facility on May 13.

“We are blessed to have this building,” said David Bentley, Salvation Army Sacramento County Coordinator. “The Salvation Army can now serve the families and individuals in a very professional and first- class manner.”

The new Family Services facility is a much needed upgrade because the old building in the downtown Sacramento locale was simply too small for the growing number of families and individuals seeking assistance. There has been an increase of 118% in some social service assistance over the past year, including the food box program.

The current building can easily accommodate case management, an intake area and a warehouse where donated food and clothes are stored. Families from Sacramento County can come to Family Services to seek assistance for food, rent, utilities and transportation.

“It was great to see what The Salvation Army is doing,” said Weisbeck. “There were some things I didn’t even know The Salvation Army does.”

Those in attendance for the grand opening were treated to a unique tour of the facility. The place was transformed into a Monopoly-esque game called “Movin-opoly”. The attendees used a game sheet to help navigate through the different services The Army provides.

“This was fun,” said attendee Barbara Little. “What a creative way to go through a tour. I learned so much about Salvation Army programs in Sacramento.”

More than 3,000 local families receive food relief

2010-02-24T23:31:59Z

It is not hard to find someone struggling during these tough economic times. Take, for instance, Devon Lee. He and his wife have two children, but both are unemployed.

“We need food, clothing, resources,” said Lee. “Money is a big issue.”

But some relief came to Lee in a big way. He was one of more than 3,000 families to receive food assistance from a distribution organized by Feed The Children, the international hunger relief organization.

Feed The Children distributed eight semi tractor-trailers full of food items at Cal Expo on February 24. Salvation Army-Sacramento was a partner agency of Feed The Children and pre-identified the recipient families. The boxes are designed to help a family for up to one week.

“It shows that someone cares, that there’s some kind of angel out there,” Lee said. “Whatever helps. A little can go a long way, believe it or not.”

The distribution was the latest stop on Feed The Children’s Americans Feeding Americans Emergency Caravan, which has helped more than 30,000 families across the country in cities that have been affected by the nation’s economic downturn. Feed The Children is planning similar distributions in more than 20 major American cities this year.

“While they’re struggling to decide whether if I’m going to keep on the utilities or put food on the table,” said Tony Sellars, Feed The Children director of communications, “this is one less worry for that week and maybe they can catch up and get their life back in order.”

Currently, the poverty rate for persons under 18 years of age in Sacramento is 22 percent. California has the fifth-highest rate of unemployment in the country – more than twice the rate for December 2007, just two years prior. One in every seven persons in the state lives in poverty (more than 5 million people), including one in five children.

““We were so excited to be able to partner with Feed The Children in this time of need,” said David Bentley, Salvation Army Sacramento County coordinator. “Many families in the Sacramento region are struggling, and we’re very fortunate that we can play a part to assist them in any way.”

According to The Salvation Army, more than 120 volunteers participated in the four-hour distribution event.

Along with the food boxes, Feed The Children will also distribute hygiene and personal care products to each family.

Founded in 1979, Feed The Children is consistently ranked as one of the 10 largest international charities in the U.S., based on private, non-government support. Feed The Children is a Christian, international, nonprofit relief organization with headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty or natural disasters. In fiscal year 2008, Feed The Children distributed more than 133 million pounds of food and other essentials to children and their families in all 50 states and internationally, supplementing more than 760,000 meals each day. Since its founding, the organization has reached out to help those in need in 119 countries around the globe.

East Sac Rotary prez is now bald after losing a bet

2010-02-20T01:37:53Z

East Sacramento Rotary Club president, Carroll Dudley, now has a nice clean look. He is completely bald after the fellow Rotarians took turns shaving his hair and mustache during the most recent group luncheon.

The hair shaving was the culmination of an event in which the East Sac Rotary celebrated raising $6,144 for The Salvation Army during the 2009 Christmas Red Kettle drive. Before the holiday season began, Dudley pledged that he would go bald if the club, as bell ringers, would generate $6,000 or more. More than 25 members of the East Sac Rotary took that challenge.

“I hadn’t had my head shaved off since 1970 when I went into the Air Force,” Dudley said. “It’s been 30 years since the mustache has been off. In fact, my wife has only seen me once without it (mustache).”

The shaving process took about 15 minutes. Many of Dudley’s fellow Rotarians took pictures of it while cracking some bald jokes at his expense. But for Dudley, it was well worth it.

“Can’t think of a better way to raise a lot of money for a good cause,” he said.

The East Sacramento Rotary Club has been involved with the kettle drive for over 30 years, raising more than $200,000 over that time period.

“It’s one thing to ring a bell for two hours in front of store,” said Major Tedd Lowcock, Salvation Army officer, “but it’s entirely different when you’re willing to give something up like your hair.”

The money raised from the bell ringing efforts will go to help fund Salvation Army programs in Sacramento County. These programs include a transitional homeless shelter, assistance for families, youth and senior programs, and summer camp.