The Salvation Army of Rochester's Winter 2022 Newsletter

Serving Greater Rochester since 1884

Winter 2021

Planet Fitness locations across Western New York chose to put caring for your body and caring for your community together this Christmas season. The franchise partnered with The Salvation Army to provide space and service for our Angel Tree program. 425 angel tags were provided to the 7 locations in our area, which were placed in open areas for the members to take. Collectively the members and staff provided more than 2000 toys, hats, gloves and clothing to our Toy Shop. WOW!

July 11 2022

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The 27th annual Golf Fore! Kids Tournament will be on Monday 7/11/22. Pre-register your foursome at 585-987-9500 ext. 2319.

Major Debbie Burr, Director of Monroe County Operations Major Doug Burr, Finger Lakes Shared Ministry Coordinator Thomas Kagoro, Director of Operations

70 Liberty Pole Way PO Box 41210 Rochester, NY 14604 (585) 987-9500 RochesterNY.SalvationArmy.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

ext. 2310 ext. 2311 ext. 2315

We could not be more grateful for the generosity of our local Planet Fitness facilities.

From all who received and from all of us at The Salvation Army who put these presents into the hands of the less fortunate, thank you!

Robert Barlow, Director of Development Maureen Hill, Media/Community Relations C. Mike Henry, Development Associate

ext. 2320 ext. 2319 ext. 2318

Although the unusual times continue with COVID -19 and its variants among us, you wouldn’t know it by the return-to-normal donation numbers during Rochester’s Red Kettle Campaign this year. There was no shortage of generosity from community members, whose donations brought our collection total back to pre-COVID numbers.

When you hear the bell ringing outside of your favorite store, you know it’s Christmas time!

Our annual red kettle campaign expanded this year with a new “Battle of the Bells” competition.

Organizations, businesses and groups of any size were welcome to ring and raise donations with... (continued on page 3)

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2021 Red Kettle Campaign Results Battle of the Bells Competition Winner

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Community Partners and Participation During the Holidays

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Christmas Toy and Food Distribution

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Project Bundle Up! Returns

One of the key components to our successful campaign was having a dedicated Red Kettle Chairperson, Scott Hetsko. The meteorologist from WHAM Channel 13 started our campaign off with an inspiring speech at Kickoff and continued his momentum through our telethon; donning a not-so-ugly sweater when we reached our goal of $8,000.

Bell ringers began mid-November at partnering stores including Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Tops Friendly Markets and Trader Joes. Organizations, families, businesses, and individuals from all over Monroe County registered to ring at our three local malls and other participating venues like Total Sports Experience and Pet Supplies Plus.

The dedication of those who volunteered at our kettles are a testament to this year’s campaign success. In total, more than $328,000 was collected in just 7 weeks. That’s a 25% increase from our $250,000 total in 2020.

The donation process expanded this holiday season with all red kettles being equipped with NFC technology accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay. Digital donations were encouraged to cut down on points of contact and give cash-free donors more options to give. In addition, The Salvation Army’s new text-to-give process allowed an additional $10,000 to our campaign total. 82 additional donations came in through this texting option.

What happens to the donations received from the Red Kettles in Rochester?

All funds given locally to the Salvation Army will stay right here in the Rochester community. Bells and kettles may have been put away, but the money collected during the 2021 campaign will be put to good use throughout 2022, supporting the services and programs that help the less fortunate in our area.

From the children who take part in our summer camp and after school programs to those who come to us for help through our Emergency and Family Services programs, our mission is to brighten and change the lives of our neighbors every day of the year.

All are served according to their need and our capacity to help regardless of gender, race ethnicity or sexual orientation.

Teaming Up with Local MiLB For Red Wings Red Kettle Night

In-Person Christmas Distribution Returns To Help Families In Need Getting ready for the holidays and going shopping at a local Walmart are practically synonymous with one another. What would we do without $3.88 eggnog and $5.98 shrimp cocktail platters?

Salvation Army corps was given their own registration where toys and goods were added to a customizable wish list. This made gifting safer and easier for those who didn’t want to physically enter Walmart stores.

Behind the great prices is a great partner of The Salvation Army. Walmart stores all over the country support our cause each year with donated space both inside and outside of their locations. The seven Walmart locations in Monroe County are no exception. The General Managers, front end staff and other team members all play a part in our Red It was a crisp, fall evening for Kettle campaign.

a baseball game, but that didn’t deter the Salvation Army from heading out to Frontier Field for “Red Wings Red Kettle” night.

The home of Rochester’s professional baseball team was host to our first bell ringing event of the season.

Our collective goal was to bring awareness to the 2021 Red Kettle campaign and recruit volunteers for our upcoming holiday activities.

Our relationship doesn’t begin and end with Kettle bell volunteers who are ringing outside the main entrance. When there’s a media opportunity, Walmart agrees to let the news on-site. Managers share kind words about our services through in-person interviews. Their marketing team delivers our message through promotions and advertising. Our goals are met through dedicated teamwork that isn’t just contracted signatures from two parties.

This year we made Walmart our home for a Commander-led competition where every Salvation Army around the world rang at the same time. Close to $550 was raised in four hours thanks to the generous Walmart patrons who donated.

"Baseball is one of our country’s greatest sports, but its experiences like this that allow the public to witness a Walmart provided online support to us as different kind of teamwork,” well with a round-up option during website said Major Debbie Burr. checkouts. They also created a donation “At this game we built on webpage called “Registry for Good”. Every each other’s passion for our community. Working together made both local organizations stronger,”

Close to 1,500 families in Rochester found their way to The Salvation Army’s online registration for our annual Toy and Food Distribution event. Children from newborn to 13 years of age were “placed on the good list” to receive presents through community donations and the angel tree program.

Volunteers helped decorate and organize the shop space at 100 West Avenue while angel trees popped up all over Rochester. More than 4,000 toys and winter items were collected at angel tree hosts including the Rochester School District Central Office, FedEx, and HBT Architects.

Walmart Superstores put up trees for Angel tags, collected donations and kept them safe for us, and even called us when pickups were needed. Collectively they helped more than 750 items make their way to our toy and food distribution shop and more than $57,000 into our red kettles. They were generous with their time, their space, their service and their smiles.

Walmart has kept our Red Kettle relationship going for 10 years. Here’s to many more anniversaries with the organization that truly helps others “save money, live better”.

This was the first collaborative effort between The Salvation Army and the Rochester Red Wings. Major Doug Burr threw out the first pitch while staff and volunteers gave away prizes. Dan Mason, Red Wings General Manager, said, "We couldn’t wait to educate our fans about the great work of the Salvation Army and the goods and services they provide for the less fortunate in our community. We encourage our fans to help support The Salvation Army however they feel appropriate, either as volunteers or donors.”

(from page 1) ...a competitive spirit to raise more funds than any other participating group.

The competition ran from November 20th through December 24th with half a dozen groups vying for 1st place.

2021 Battle of the Bells winner is the Lions Club of Chili, NY. They rang for 16 hours total outside The Pet Supplies Plus store on Chili Ave. Together they raised $452.50 in donations that will support the services we provide in here in Rochester.

Last year families were limited to picking up pre-selected items through a drive-though operation, but this year they were able to shop inperson while wearing masks and at a limited capacity. Even with these restrictions, families and volunteers were glad to return to a face-to-face interaction for this shopping experience.

Special thanks to “Cocoa” the Rochester winter bear for volunteering his time at Henrietta Walmart

Battle of the Bells continued

The Salvation Army Distribution Shop ran from December 13th through 16th, with an additional day added on December 20th. Volunteers from the Rochester Police Department, Brown and Brown Insurance, National Honors Society, United Way, Saint John Fisher College and more donated their time to assist with shopping and help restocking tables. 900 families, 3500 individuals, and 2000 children benefitted from this collaborative effort!

Hooray For Project Bundle Up!

The Lions Club will be the first organization to have their name engraved on our Battle of the Bells legacy trophy and hold the award at their location until the Red Kettle Kickoff of 2022.

We welcome all to consider battling next Christmas season! If your business, organization, group or family would like to know more, please call 585-987-9500 ext. 2319.

As the weather grows colder we set our minds and actions to staying warm. Typically this includes an initiative at The Salvation Army to provide new coats with those less fortunate. This year we couldn’t take our regular shopping excursion to JCPenney, so we did the next best thing...online shopping!

Children from our afterschool and refugee support programs shared their coat and boot sizes so we could order winter items for them.

Dedicated funds were used for the purpose in which they were donated; to keep little ones bundled up this winter. The children were all smiles under their masks when they received their coats and boots.

Thank you to the many who made this charitable act possible.

If you’d like to donate to project Bundle Up!, please email ras.volunteer @use.salvationarmy.org

The Salvation Army of Greater Rochester greatly appreciates the Rochester Red Wings for stepping up to the plate to help!

“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

RochesterNY.SalvationArmy.org www.facebook.com/TheSalvationArmyRochester @SalArmyROC

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