Stats, Numbers and Units of Hope

As a grant writer, I'm not normally disposed to LIKE working with numbers, I much prefer finessing the English language. But, I do love me some stats.

I like seeing the service numbers from across Tulsa Area Command; I'm always impressed by the sheer breadth of impact that the Army has in Tulsa.

I think it's very important to recognize that each number represents a person, who has had their needs meet, their lives touched by their community's generosity and their heart lifted by hope for even just a few minutes.

We had a great turnout for Thanksgiving, both in volunteers and people served!

Thanksgiving Stats:

70 community volunteers served

meals to 890 guests at Center of Hope

for a total of 144 service hours, 

on Thanksgiving Day.

Wow. 

Thank you, Tulsa!

Now for some Christmas numbers!

Angel Tree Stats:

We have 8,570 child Angels on the trees,

and have 591 Elder Angels to serve as well.

The 4,200 Angel Tree families will receive food baskets 

with fresh fruit, milk, eggs and canned goods, 

when they come to pick up the Angels gifts.

We need your help to make Christmas as big of a success as Thanksgiving was! Canned food drives are helping to fill the canned food need, but the fresh items must be bought and stored on site.

That's

 4200 dozen eggs

8600 gallons of milk

4200 bags of apples

4200 loaves of bread

4200 bags of oranges

4200 boxes of Bisquick

4200 packages of stuffing 

We're on our way with lots of support from our Board, but need your help to make sure every family gets a basket. 

Won't you consider sponsoring a food item?

or 

Picking up an Angel for each angel in YOUR life?

or 

Come volunteer your time to ring a bell, 

work a shift at the Angel Tree table 

or hand out food baskets? 

 
Contact, Lindsay Sparks, Development Director for a complete list of Christmas funding opportunities! Email or phone (918-587-7801)

Contact Jenny McElyea, Volunteer Coordinator, for volunteer opportunities, via email or phone- 918-587-7801.

-Vicki Thorne

Full Kettles Warm Hearts

It’s a sign that the holidays are here: big red kettles, the sounds of bells ringing and a kind bellringer wishing me a “Merry Christmas.”

The 2012 Salvation Army Kettle Campaign is officially underway and we hope to raise $650,000 this year. The goal is bigger this year because we are helping more people. The Salvation Army is providing food baskets to 4,200 families. We have 8,570 children on our Angel Trees, an increase of more than 1,000 from 2011. We’re also providing assistance to 591 Elder Angels.

The new Reasor’s in Bixby (which has a terrific salad and hot bar, by the way) helped us kick off our kettle campaign in a big way. After unveiling our $650,000 goal, store manager Anthony Fulfaro announced Reasor’s was matching donations on the first day of kettle ringing, up to $5,000. Reasor’s customers were very generous, helping us bring in $6,520.01 on our first day! 

Major Taylor also explained the history behind the red kettle and how it became a fixture at Christmastime.  In 1891, Captain Joseph McFee started a tradition to provide a free meal to the less fortunate on Christmas Day. From his days of being a sailor, he remembered seeing a big pot being used to take in donations on the streets of Liverpool, England.  Captain McFee got permission to try this idea in San Francisco and used the call of “Keep the Pot Boiling” to draw in passengers and donations.

Many people say they feel good when they drop money into one of the red kettles.  A full kettle warms the hearts of those who are giving – and receiving. 

-Carrie

Toys! Toys! Toys!

You may have heard the news, but the Angel Tree is loaded down with needy Angels this year. We have almost 1000 additional Angels over last year, in need of some holiday cheer.

Lindsay, our Development Director, said when the numbers came in, "We are going to need lots of toys this year! We need toy drives, toy drives, toy drives!"

And as newly crowned Queen of Toy Drives, I'm excited to tell you all that we HAVE several toy drives lined up! From the annual KTUL/BOK toy drive to a first-year drive at the Alliday Craft Show, we are excited to be working towards making Christmas fun for all of our Angels.


The most unique toy drive in Tulsa is Social Media Tulsa's annual #Tweet4Toys event. You may remember the event from last year from our Random Act of Kindness post, and this year they are back, for their 3rd annual toy drive event!

Social Media Tulsa is a unique group of technology minded folks (of which I am a proud member) who use social media tools, like Twitter, Facebook and Google+, to facilitate communication, business and community. They have meetups throughout the year and host a conference in March; you can join their Meetup group or follow along on Twitter by using the hashtag #smtulsa.

Kettles Turn Green Country “Red” For the Holidays

I love the holidays: the smell of cinnamon, Santa Claus, egg nog-flavored everything and church on Christmas Eve. But what I love the most is people really show their generosity towards those who may be struggling.

Starting Thursday, November 15th, red kettles will take over green country as our 2012 kettle season begins. Everyone is familiar with the big red kettles and the bellringers, but did you know there are smaller versions of the big kettles, a “cousin,” that are also used to help those in need?

Turkey Talk

How would you feel if you were expecting 1,000 people for dinner and you didn’t have close to the amount of food you needed? 

That’s just how The Salvation Army feels right now.

We need 80 frozen turkeys and 80 frozen pre-baked pies for the Tulsa Salvation Army Annual Thanksgiving Dinner. Right now we have none. Zero. 

And we need them by Monday.

We need them by Monday so we can begin cooking everything for the 1,000 people who will come to the Center of Hope on Thanksgiving Day. They will come together to share a meal and for a brief time set aside their worries and fears and do what most of us will do that day – enjoy a holiday dinner.
We know our community has a generous heart and hope that as people are shopping for their own Thanksgiving dinner this weekend they will pick up an extra turkey or pie and bring it to the Center of Hope, 102 North Denver. 

Turkeys, pies and any canned goods can be dropped off at the Center of Hope, seven days a week, 24-hours a day. 

Won’t you help?

-DJ




PS- Editor's note: DJ is here with us at The Salvation Army filling in for Sallie during her leave, we are thrilled to have her on board! 


PPS- Editor's note #2: If you can't pick up a turkey, send us a text and make a gift! You can text JOY TURKEY to 85944 to make a $10 donation toward our holiday needs!

A GREAT ride!

This year our Broken Arrow Corp and Boys & Girl Club is excited to be hosting their 11th Annual Motorcycle Toy Run! For the past few years we have partnered with Bikers Against Child Abuse to make this event a great success. On November 17th, beginning at 10:30a.m., the riders will take Kenosha (71st) all the way through Broken Arrow from Forest Ridge Golf Club to our location on 91st between Aspen & Elm.

If you haven't seen a big run like this before, it's exciting to see the bikers and their bikes entering the parking lot loaded with toys!  Salvation Army supporters greet riders with signs saying "thank you" in gratitude of their contributions to the start of our toy donation season.

“Everyone always has a great time at the Toy Run and the chili dinner,” said Captain Lori Lucas, the Corps officer who heads up the event. “We’re looking for a better-than-ever turnout this year.”

The public is welcome to join on their motorcycles with an unwrapped toy to get the full experience or come in your car and enjoy the festivities at the Corp location afterward.  Our Corp members, along with the Boy Scout Troop 995, will be serving our participants with a chili dinner. It includes Ron's award winning chili, crackers and beverages. And for dessert, the Tulsa Center of Hope kitchen is baking brownies! There will be numerous door prizes and lots of fellowship to start off "the season of giving". Please join us or feel free to stand along the route and show your support! The event will benefit the more than 4,200 families that have already applied for assistance in the Tulsa Area.

~Lindsay
P.S. Can't make it? Text JOY to 85944 to make a $10 donation via your mobile phone bill!

Go to the mall... to help others!

Christmas is less than two months away, does that seem crazy to anyone else? With Christmas comes the joy of shopping and if you’re like me that means headed to the mall for a few hours. While you are at the mall why not consider volunteering for the Angel Tree? It’s a great way to get in the holiday spirit and a great excuse to spend a little extra time at the mall. Plus, helping people find the perfect angel is actually really fun!

For more information about volunteering at the Angel Tree contact Jenny McElyea, Volunteer Coordinator at 918-587-7801, Jenny_McElyea@uss.salvation.org or click here. 
 

Volunteers are needed from November 17-December 12 during mall hours shift times are: 10am-2pm, 2pm-6pm, 6pm-10pm (M-S) 12pm-3pm, 3pm-6pm (Sunday). 

You can choose Woodland Hills or Promenade Mall.

-Jenny