United Way: Helping All Kinds of People, Including Me

Arletta Robinson, director of
the Center of Hope,  was selected
to give the invocation.

The fact that the United Way helps all kinds of people was abundantly clear at their annual luncheon held last Wednesday. Photographs of people of all colors and ages decorated the tables to illustrate the theme “The Faces of Giving.”  TSA was represented in a photograph of Major Roy Williams on the stage backdrop. His smiling face was also on the program cover. Have you ever been helped by a United Way agency? My family has. My family is a typical middle class family but  we've been helped by at least two United Way agencies. One is the Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges, where I try to work out twice a week. I've worked out with a physical therapist because it's covered by my medical insurance, but I choose to go to the Center because they're better. Same thing with Youth Services. Many years ago, one of my children was having typical teenage problems. Because we have medical insurance, we could have gone to almost any counselor in Tulsa, but we found the most  talented one was at Youth Services, a United Way agency.  
Check out the United Way's agency list here, and you may be surprised how many great non-profits you'll find, maybe even some that you've used. 
How many of you have been helped by a United Way agency? How many of you have been helped by the Salvation Army? I’m not asking for true confessions here, just the facts! How about sending some comments? 


See more photos from the United Way, here.

-Sallie

TSA Area Command Moves

Last week was our first week in our new building at 924 S. Hudson, the warehouse we used for the Christmas Joy Center, and it’s great to be settled again! Veronica Ramirez, our multi-talented business manager, orchestrated the move and it went amazingly well. We saved tens of thousands of dollars by packing and moving ourselves. Our awesome maintenance staff did all the heavy work.  The Penloyd company used to be in this building, and we are temporarily located in their old offices.  We’re taking bids for a build out in the warehouse for our permanent offices.  Penloyd made glass display cases for Dillards and other glass products, so we have a beautiful round glass door, glass brick and etched glass walls. Lindsay and I are in an office that was carved out of the former warehouse break room and freshly painted. It features a mirrored column, come visit us and we’ll give you a tour! Bring cash :)

-Sallie

Fun on Facebook

Wow, it has been a crazy week but we are all settled in our new building at 924 S. Hudson! Sallie will be writing a post all about that adventure in a few days.  Right now I wanted to update you about a fun game on Facebook that raises funds for our Emergency Financial Assistance program. American Electric Power (AEP/PSO) has designed a "match" game that allows users to raise money for their Light a Life program by playing a simple game. With a fun Valentine's Day theme the game shows you exactly how much money will be donated because you took the time to play.

Since 1986, PSO customers have had the option of donating a little extra on their electric bill and that money is donated to its Light A Life energy fund program, which is administered by The Salvation Army.

I played a few rounds (yes, this particular internet game counts as work) and I raised nearly $5.00 in just a few minutes, plus the game changes each time you play, so it doesn't get easy or boring.  Come on readers, I know you will all check your Facebook multiple times today alone, why not take the time to help us out financially each time you do so?  The Make a Match game will be up until the end of the month and AEP/PSO will donate up to $5,000 to Light a Life. This money is desperately needed as the early February blizzard has resulted in very high gas/electric bills for local residents who struggle to make ends meet.

“If you Make a Match at the PSO Facebook page, the company will make a contribution to help low-income customers who have difficulty paying their electric bill,” said Tiffini Lyda Kelley, PSO Community Affairs manager.

So, go play Make a Match and raise some money! 

~Lindsay

Army of Stars to Be Held March 12

Captain Patrick Gesner with
autographed Dallas Cowboys football

It's time again for Sand Springs annual Army of Stars Benefit.  This event will feature KOTV-Channel 6 anchor and veteran news man Scott Thompson as the keynote speaker. Scheduled for Sat., Mar. 12 the event will be held to raise money for the Sand Springs Boys & Girls Club, which offers sports, after school care and arts education for local youth.

Last year, the inaugural year for the event, more than $16,000 was raised. These funds supported programming for hundreds of members throughout 2010. Teressia Kehr, the event chair, said the goal is to raise $20,000 this year. The event will feature a live auction, which will include a Dallas Cowboys laser engraved autographed football from the Gene & Jerry Jones Family  Dallas Cowboys Charities.

The dinner will be held at the Boys & Girls Club, 4403 S. 129th West Ave in Sand Springs. The Army of the Stars will start at 6 p.m. so guests can enter the silent auction. A live auction will also be held and the event will end around 8:30 p.m. To make reservations or to sponsor this fun event, call the Sand Springs club at 245-2237.

 ~Lindsay

BA Fashion Show to be Held Feb. 25

2009 Models from Broken Arrow's
Annual Fashion Show

At The Salvation Army of Broken Arrow, we are getting ready for our Annual Fashion Show and Luncheon to be held on Fri., Feb. 25th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Forest Ridge Golf Club, 7501 E. Kenosha,  in Broken Arrow. We’ve named this year’s event  Petals & Purses, and it will feature fashions  from Maurice's and other local shops. The clothes will be modeled by local celebrities from TV and radio stations. We will also feature silent auction items, including floral arrangements. Tickets are for sale at the Salvation Army of Broken Arrow, 1400 W. Washington. The cost is $50 per person. Table sponsorships are also available upon request. All proceeds will benefit The Salvation Army of Broken Arrow. Please contact Samantha Grammer or me at the Broken Arrow Salvation Army at 258-7545 for additional information.

-Lt. Jamie Clay

TSA to Assist with MVP Weekend

The Salvation Army Tulsa Command will assist with the Felix Jones “Running Back to Make a Difference” foundation’s MVP (Most Valuable People) Weekend, scheduled for June 23-25. The foundation supports an ACT prep course at the Salvation Army North Mabee Boys & Girls Club. The announcement was made at the first MVP Host Committee meeting, chaired by Damario Solomon-Simmons, another North Mabee alumnus, who is an attorney for Jones.

The meeting was also attended by North Mabee alumni Rocky Bright and Gordon Marshall , and TSA grant writer Rosemary Brown. This is the third MVP weekend that Jones, a running back for the Dallas Cowboys and alumnus of the Salvation Army North Mabee Boys & Girls Club, has held. The purpose of the weekend is to raise money and awareness to benefit Tulsa’s inner-city youth.  TSA will provide public relations support for the weekend and breakfast for the high school athletes who participate in the football training camp held Sat., June 24.
-Sallie

How to instantly lose 20 lbs.? Have your picture taken with four large (and very nice) athletes! Damario played football for OU, Marquay played basketball for ORU, Rocky played football for OU and Marshall played football for TU.

Shelter Prepares for Next Storm

Center of Hope Food Services 
Manager Shannon Deever is 
keeping her spirits up 
despite the storm.

Center of Hope employees who had stayed overnight at the shelter last week finally got to go home over the weekend, if only to do laundry and gather their overnight gear to prepare for the next storm - due Wednesday.  All things considered, staff and guests are coping well with 300 plus people staying overnight and feeding more than 1,000 meals every day. The center is prepared to feed people for another week, regardless of the weather, said Arletta Robinson, Center of Hope director. But donations are needed for replenish the pantry staples that have been used up.

Saturday and Sunday,  KJRH-Channel 2 ran a story about texting donations to us for replenish the pantry. “At home, you replenish your pantry a little at a time. We don’t have that luxury here,” Arletta said. One challenge has been that the truckloads of fresh food that are usually delivered weekly couldn’t make it last week. “We all got really excited when we saw the milk truck today,” Arletta said. Although supplies are getting low, spirits are holding up well. Arletta said that she has received only two reports of guests fighting or complaining about each other. “Homeless people aren’t stupid. This is killer cold and they know they have to pull together,” Arletta said. 

Text “TULSA” to 85944 to make a one-time $10 donation to the Tulsa Salvation Army. Make sure you confirm your donation.
-Sallie

Center of Hope Coping Well with Storm

On Day Four of Snowpocolypse 2011, the Center of Hope staff members and guests continue to cope with the winter weather by working together, said Arletta Robinson, director. "We're operating with a skeletal staff who are staying overnight at the Center of Hope and working in shifts. Also, with the bad weather our guests have stepped up and are helping in any way they can," Arletta said. Our food supply at the homeless shelter and social services center is also holding up well, although we could use some donations to replenish the food we’ve used up. "We plan ahead for situations such as this, so we have plenty of food. Thursday we served 1,300 meals," Arletta said. The number of overnight guests has also risen, with 368 the highest count since the storm started.

I often get asked if we could use donations of blankets, coats and food. We already have blankets for our guests, but we could use some coats. We'll make sure the people who need them get them. We can't use donations of small cans of food (like we collect at Christmas) because it takes more staff members to open them, but we can always use donations of food in bulk. If you’d like to donate, remember you can text "TULSA" to 85944 to donate $10 and we will Do the Most Good with your gift. Stay warm!

-Sallie

Salvation Army Prepares for Winter Storm

Photo courtesy of www.thesouthernfamily.net
Aubree Southern

Salvation Army facilities in metro Tulsa and Sand Springs are preparing for the winter storm that is expected to bring record-cold temperatures and precipitation to the area tomorrow. 
The Center of Hope, the largest homeless shelter in northeast Oklahoma, is prepared for record numbers of overnight guests. An average of approximately 300 people stay at the shelter every night. Almost 1,000 hot meals are served every day at the shelter on average. Cold weather and precipitation are expected to greatly increase these numbers over the next few days.
The Salvation Army mobile feeding unit based in Tulsa is prepared to serve 5,000 hot meals a day. The Salvation Army Sand Springs Corps and Boys & Girls Club is on standby to open as a warming station and can accommodate up to 100 overnight guests if needed.  Supplies are ready to be picked up at the Emergency Operations Command at 924 S. Hudson by Salvation Army units as far as Muskogee. Warming stations will be open at Salvation Army facilities across the state, including in Stillwater, Bartlesville and Lawton.  Stay warm!!
-Sallie 

Share this information:

Warming and shelter available at 102 N. Denver
Tulsa, OK (918) 582-7201

and

Warming and shelter at 4403 S. 129th W. Ave

Sand Springs, OK (918) 245-2237 (Call first)

Salvation Army & Cox, a Great Team

If you watch cable TV you have likely seen this commercial already. Captain Patrick Gesner appears in a 30 second public service announcement (PSA) thanking Cox Communications for helping the Tulsa community through The Salvation Army. Cox employees rang bells during the holidays for a week last year, and they help The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club year round. 

-Sallie

Bell Ringers Accept Trophies

A family eating dinner at the Center of Hope. A little girl getting her first ballet lesson. A homeless person sleeping in a warm bed instead of under a bridge. What do all of these people have in common? They are being helped because someone rang a bell for the Tulsa Area Command of The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army Kettle Campaign not only helps fund Christmas gifts and food for 3,000 needy families, it helps funds programs throughout the winter. The Kettle Campaign raised $608,000 in 2010, more than seven percent higher than the $565,000 goal. The city’s top bell ringers recently gathered at the Tulsa Area Command to receive recognition for their exceptional efforts. They were congratulated by Captain John Robbins of the Citadel Corps and by Rhonda McDaniel, volunteer coordinator. The first place winner for the One-Day-One-Door competition, Johnny Wasovich, was out of town for the ceremony but it was announced that he raised $934. A high point in the ceremony was when Jimmy Ober, a Tulsa firefighter, co-presented the traveling trophy for bell ringing to Cpl. Scott Anderson of the Tulsa Police Department. The two organizations have developed a pattern of exchanging the trophy every year. Click "Read More" to see photos of all our winners!

Feeding the Need

Last week the national office of The Salvation Army released a survey of our food programs across the United States.  The 2011 Feeding the Need report contains info from more than 30 of our feeding programs, large and small, across the country.  I read the report and instantly emailed the Center of Hope Director to find out how our needs in Tulsa compared to the national report.  The answer? We are doing better, but not that much better.

If you want to read the full report you can do that here.

First, the recession officially ended in June 2009.  If you feel like that was the month that things got better for you and your family, please comment below and count your blessings.  To the rest of us, that date probably doesn’t mean much.  I was laid off in July 2009 from a previously thriving non-profit, so the June date holds irony for me. The impact of this recession is still being felt by many in our country.  Salvation Army food programs nationwide have seen an increase in new clients, ranging from middle-class families to the working poor, in addition to younger generations looking for work.

Life after Christmas...

First of all, for all of you who check out our blog frequently and have noticed the shortage of posts recently, sorry.  Life after Christmas around here is a time for catching up and resting (a little).  That does not mean we haven't been busy though! Below is a recap of some recent news:

The Tulsa Women's Auxiliary raised more than $90,000 at their "Fantasy Christmas" luncheon. Well done ladies!

We lost a longtime employee. Wes is greatly missed.

The Neediest Families Fund had the most successful year ever. Thanks to the Tulsa World for featuring so many families in need.

The police and fire departments volunteered for a bellringing throwdown. Congrats to the Tulsa Police for their 2010 victory.  Volunteers gave us 5,512 hours of their time this holiday season.

Brad Johnson from LawnAmerica spent 138 days walking the Appalachian Trail and raised $105,000 for Tulsa charities including us. Thanks Brad! 

Major Roy Williams thanked Tulsa for their generosity on Christmas day. 

Nearly 100 volunteers served hundreds of Christmas Eve meals. 

Our #Tweet4Toys Twitter campaign got national recognition for using social media for social good.

Thousands of children are had a merry Christmas this year thanks to the Salvation Army's Angel Tree.

The Salvation Army mourns the loss of the 2009 Arkansas Oklahoma Division Man of the Year, Eddie Story.

From myself and the entire staff here at the Tulsa Area Salvation Army we hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We are grateful for you.

~Lindsay

 

One Volunteer's Experience

Merry Eve of Christmas Eve, everyone!

It’s been exactly one year since I volunteered with The Salvation Army over Christmas, and the experience is still as rewarding as ever. On Monday, I helped with Christmas distribution of Angel Tree presents, food baskets, and Toys for Tots. More than 7,000 Angel Tree gifts were donated and distributed, and more than 3,500 families were blessed with food baskets to supply their family with enough food to last them one week.

Every year, distribution is one of the events The Salvation Army organizes to help provide for thousands of Tulsa families during Christmas. Angels are chosen off of the tree, Tulsans go out shopping, toys are dropped off and sorted, food baskets are packed, and families come to get presents for their kids. Without the volunteers, the companies who donate the food, and the Tulsans who pick Angels off of the tree, none of it could be possible.

It is so cool to see the smiles on parent’s faces when they receive presents, stocking stuffers, and a Christmas dinner for their family. Without everyone stepping up and giving their time, many in Tulsa would go without. One of the best quotes of the entire weekend was from a mother, “I get all of this food? All of it? All of it is for me?” And she only received all of it, because of The Salvation Army and its volunteers.

So thank you, Tulsa ! I want to extend a sincere thanks to everyone who came out to help. And I’m sure all of the parents who are wrapping presents and preparing Christmas dinner would say the same.

I made a quick video from distribution, so you can see the behind the scenes like I did.

Happy Holidays,
 -Liz

Half Krugerrand Found in Tulsa Kettle

A gold half Krugerrand was found yesterday in a Salvation Army kettle.The coin, made of a half ounce of gold, is valued at $680. The kettle was located at at Reasor’s Foods at 15th and Lewis. Up until last year, a Krugerrand (an African coin made of an ounce of gold) was dropped in a Salvation Army kettle in Tulsa for the last 15 years. No one ever identified the person who contributed the Krugerrands.  Last year, it was found in a kettle in Oklahoma City.

This coin was different from former Krugerrands given in Tulsa in that it was wrapped in a paper with “Merry Christmas” at the top, and typewritten lines from “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens underneath. In past years, the Krugerrand  has  been wrapped in a dollar bill.

“We are thankful to whoever the generous peron is who gave us the half Krugerrand, because every year Tulsans watch for it to appear in a kettle. But we are also thankful to every person who drops a coin or bill in the kettle,” said Major Williams. The Salvation Army bought gifts and food for 3,500 Tulsa families with contributions from the kettles and Angel Trees this year.

-Sallie

Thank you Monte Cassino

We are so thankful for the 6th grade students at Monte Cassino who raised $12,000 to spend on angels from our Angel Tree.  The kids even did the shopping themselves, amazing.


Check out this great story from the Tulsa World.

 

Merry Christmas!
~Lindsay

 

Cowboys & Mustangs Go to Orlando

1. Families, friends and supporters gave The Mabee Red Shield 6th Grade Cowboys and North Mabee 5th Grade Mustangs a great send off to the AYF National Championship Games in Orlando.

2. Three generations of the Hobson family.

3. Mabee Red Shield girls made signs.

4. Some parents and siblings rode the bus to Orlando with their star athlete.

5. John Williams, Sr. and his son Jayson are taking the trip with Sixth Grade Cowboy Jonathan Williams. Other parents drove and flew to Orlando.

6. Mrs. Jo Bright, left, director of the North Mabee club, sent tutor Peggy Newsome so the athletes could keep up with their school work.

7. There were some excited boys on this bus.

8. Spirits were high among (clockwise from top) Joshua Dunbar, Jaylen Johnson, Jerrmain Moore and Tre-vion Folks, North Mabee 5th Grade Mustangs.

 9.The bus driver was a good match for the teams - she said she had driven a school bus for 8 years before working for the bus line.

-Sallie

Stuff the KHITS RV with Toy!

UPDATE: 
Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mikey B. with KHITS Morning Show will park their RV in the Owasso Walmart parking lot to make it really easy for shoppers to put a toy in the Stuff the KHITS RV promotion. Friday, Nard & Smigga will ask drivers, shoppers and anyone near the Tulsa Walmart at 66th & Memorial to stop and drop off a new, unwrapped toy. This is KHITS’ way of helping ensure that all the kids whose parents have signed up for Christmas assistance get what they want on Christmas morning! The Salvation Army will help an estimated 7,000 kids, so please Stop ‘n Stuff – we need all the toys we can get! 

-Sallie

Angel Trees Go Up at Malls- Thank You Promenade & Woodland Hills!

As the race to buy Christmas presents takes off, shoppers at Promenade Mall and Woodland Hills Mall will notice Salvation Army Angel Trees have gone up. Approximately 3,500 families have registered to receive Christmas assistance through the Salvation Army and adopting a person from an Angel Tree ensures that the children or senior citizen who have signed up will get what they’ve requested. Shoppers can ‘adopt’ an angel by stopping at an Angel Tree and talking to a volunteer about the age and gender of the person they want to adopt. Then they buy the gifts requested on the Angel tag and take them back to the mall by Dec. 13. Along with the Angel gifts, the Salvation Army gives the families groceries that will feed a family of four about a week. Our generous, long time Angel Tree media sponsors are KOTV-Channel 6 and K95.5 FM radio.

KOTV’s Dick Farout takes the first tag off the tree at Promenade Mall.

The Salvation Army Brass Ensemble plays at the Woodland Hills Opening Ceremony.

Jim Carey of the Cash & Carey Show on K95.5 amuses his son by conducting the ensemble.

KOTV's LeAnne Taylor reads the tags of the two angels she and her son Nick have chosen, while Major Kathy Williams watches.

A couple gets help with deciding who they want to adopt from the Angel Tree.

Orlando, Here We Come!

Up to 50 football players from the Salvation Army North Mabee and Mabee Red Shield Boys & Girls Clubs will leave Fri., Dec. 3 for Orlando to play in the American Youth Football (AYF) national championship games. The teams, the Fifth Grade North Mabee Mustangs and the Sixth Grade Mabee Red Shield Cowboys, are the league’s regional champions.

The kids will have a send-off ceremony starting at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the North Mabee Boys & Girls Club, according to Sam Berry, Athletic Director of the Mabee Red Shield Club. Monday, Coach Berry was interviewed about the teams and the upcoming trip on Sports Night with Mike Wolfe. The show will air today through Friday at 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Jerome Smith, Director of the Mabee Red Shield club and volunteer Coach Philip Abode from the North Mabee Club will be with the kids on the trip. Other volunteer coaches, parents and team supporters are driving and flying to Orlando to be with the kids. They have all worked hard raising the $10,000 needed to fund the trip. The national championship games will end Fri., Dec. 10 and the kids will come home Sat., Dec. 11. While in Orlando, the Mabee Red Shield Cowboys  will go to Disney World and Universal Studios and the North Mabee Mustangs will see an Orlando Magic basketball game and go to Universal Studios.

Way to go, Mustangs and Cowboys! Have an unforgettably great time – you deserve it!
-Sallie