Defend IN: 2012 World Record Bell Ringing Contest

Last year, Caleb Stokes and Leilan McNally made bell ringing history. The men rang the iconic bells outside of the Emmis Communications Building on Monument Circle for 60 straight hours.

The World Record of Bell Ringing was put on by The Salvation Army’s National Headquarters as part of a national effort to celebrate and recognize 120 years of The Salvation Army Red Kettle. Now we celebrate 122 years!

2011 started with 24 contestants across the country. By 10 PM on Saturday there were only 3 contestants left. Leilan, Caleb and Darrell Tureskis, another contestant from Springfield IL, crossed the 60 hour mark and set the new world record. Contestants were required to stand the entire time and were allowed a 10 minute break every four hours. They also could not eat anything and could only drink water or sports drinks.

So who will beat that record this year? Will someone step up and defend Indiana as reigning champ?

Here’s what you need to know:

• Current Record Stands at 60 Hours
• Entry Deadline is Wednesday, November 28, 2012
• Rules of the contest include, but are not limited to:
  Contestants must stand the entire time
  Contestants must ring the bell continuously
  Contestants must be Army bell ringers
• This year, contestants may eat and drink non-alcoholic beverages, but only during approved breaks.
• The contest is open to Salvation Army bell ringers nationwide.
• Entry deadline is Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 8 p.m. ET.
• Contestants must sign-up as bell ringers with their local Salvation Army unit

 

Background: The annual Red Kettle Campaign was started as a fundraiser by Salvation Army Captain Joseph Mcfee in San Francisco in 1891. Since that time, the Red Kettle Campaign has grown into one of the most recognizable and important charitable campaigns in the United States. As part of the campaign, more than 25,000 Salvation Army workers and volunteers spread throughout the country to ring bells daily and solicit spare change donations to the iconic red kettles from holiday shoppers. In 2011, the campaign collected a record $147 million nationwide, supported by the public’s nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars, credit cards and helped The Salvation Army serve 30 million people in communities where the money was raised.

For updates on the World Record contest as it takes place, please visit www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyUSA or www.blog.salvationarmyusa.org.

Round Up at JCP in Dec

From SalvationArmyUSA.org:

If you meet a bell ringer outside of jcpenney this holiday season with empty pockets – no worries. The popular retailer is making it as easy as ever for customers to give back this season through its charitable giving program, jcp cares.

Starting this Friday, November 23 – this biggest shopping day of the year – customers can support The Salvation Army by rounding up their store purchases to the nearest dollar and donating the difference to our 122^nd annual Red Kettle Campaign.

So when friends or family members open your gift from jcpenney, let them know that purchase helped provide meals to hungry families and clothing and toys to children in need through the services of The Salvation Army. Approximately 30 million Americans are served each year thanks to the supporters of our Red Kettle Campaign, and generous partners in giving like jcpenney.

We hope your Christmas shopping will include a visit to jcpenney, and we thank you in advance for rounding up your purchase!

• Click here to view the official press release.
• Like jcpenney on Facebook.

Week 2: Salvation Army Continues Service In NY and NJ

From SalvationArmyUSA.org

The Salvation Army continues to serve hundreds of thousands of storm survivors following Hurricane Sandy. The most heavily impacted areas include New York and New Jersey where The Salvation Army remains committed to providing food, shelter and emotional and spiritual care.

In New Jersey, The Salvation Army is serving first responders and survivors at 16 shelters throughout the area and has been serving meals in 12 counties. In New York City, The Salvation Army – as the lead agency for the City’s Food Access Plan – is working with partners from across the city to coordinate the distribution of badly needed water and food supplies to 17 sites in Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan.

These locations include:

Staten Island

• Parking Lot – Corner of Mill Road & New Dorp Lane
• Midland Beach – Father Capodano Boulevard and Hunter Avenue

Queens

• Conch Playground – 51^st Street & Rockaway Beach Boulevard
• Hammel Playground – 84^th Street & Rockaway Beach Boulevard
• Red Fern House Playground – Redfern Avenue & Beach 12^th Street
• Breezy Point Parking Lot – Highland Park (between Rockaway Pt Blvd and East Market Pkway)
• St. Francis De Sales – 129 Rocky Beach Blvd

Brooklyn

• Coney Island – Surf Ave Playground – West 25^th Street & Surf Avenue
• Red Hook – Coffey Park – 85 Richards Street

Manhattan

• Chelsea Park: West 27^th Street, between 9^th and 10^th Avenues
• Lower East Side: Vladic Playground – East 10^th Street, between C & D Avenues
• Lower East Side: Al Smith Playground – Catherine Street, between Cherry & Monroe Streets
• Lower East Side: Hamilton Fish Playground – Pitt Street & East Houston Street
• West Village: Washington Square – 3 Washington Square Village, #1A, entrance at Bleeker
• Financial District: PS 234 ­–   295 Greenwich, between Warren and Murray
• Grand Street Settlement Houses (Water Only) – 413 Grand Street
• Confucius Plaza on Division Street

In Nassau County, NY, meals ready to eat provided by the state and 1,000 blankets provided by The Salvation Army are currently being distributed to residents of Island Park, one of the hardest hit areas. And in nearby Suffolk County, NY, The Salvation Army is working to distribute in-kind donations for Sandy survivors.

The Salvation Army is so thankful for your continued support. If you would like to make a donation towards our relief efforts along the East Coast, please visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org. You can also donate via text message: simply text the word “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10 donation through your mobile phone.* To donate by phone, please call 1-800-SAL-ARMY to donate over the phone.

To send a check by mail, please designate the check “2012 Hurricane Season” and send to:

The Salvation Army Disaster Services Center
PO Box 1959
Atlanta, GA 30301

For more updates, please visit our Facebook page (Salvation Army USA), Twitter page (@SalvationArmyUS) and Emergency Disaster Services website: www.Disaster.SalvationArmyUSA.org.

Salvation Army Ramps Up Deployment Efforts in Sandy’s Wake

New York City Officials Appoint Salvation Army to Coordinate Feeding at City Shelters

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — As Hurricane Sandy barreled up the East Coast, leaving mass destruction and power outages in its wake, The Salvation Army prepared  for a long-term disaster response and recovery operation. Feeding has already begun at shelters in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, and mobile canteen units will deploy to the areas of greatest need as damage is assessed in the coming days. Crews will provide food, hydration, clean-up kits as well as emotional and spiritual care.

New York City
In New York City, officials from the Office of Emergency Management have appointed The Salvation Army as the lead agency for the City’s Food Access Plan to coordinate feeding at city shelters. For the next few days, The Salvation Army will be serving food at Seward High School in lower Manhattan where 1,000 people are being fed breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“It’s clear now that Hurricane Sandy was and continues to be a major and historic storm impacting millions of people,” said Major George Hood, National Community Relations Secretary for The Salvation Army in the United States. “Residents of the impacted areas can rest assured that The Salvation Army will be with them for the long-haul — providing practical, physical and spiritual support at the areas of greatest need.”

Current Salvation Army activities in other impacted areas include:

In New Jersey:

• The Salvation Army is serving meals, snacks and drinks to hundreds of evacuees at 11 shelters in five counties.
• While serving meals at a shelter in Union Beach, a Salvation Army canteen and a volunteer vehicle were flooded when waters rose unexpectedly. Despite the loss of these vehicles, Salvation Army volunteers continued to serve meals to both displaced residents and first responders.
• Local senior citizens found refuge from Hurricane Sandy at The Salvation Army building in Red Bank.
• In Montclair, The Salvation Army is operating a “charging” center for members of the community needing to charge their phones, computers or other electronic devices.
• A canteen is embedded with Task Force 1, the State’s official search and rescue team.

Elsewhere in New York:

• The Salvation Army provided food and shelter assistance at two locations in Albany as Sandy impacted that area last night.
• On Long Island, The Salvation Army is assisting the American Red Cross with redistribution of supplies to eight shelters.

In Pennsylvania:

• The Salvation Army is serving approximately 1,000 meals per day in nine shelters throughout the Philadelphia area.
• In Lehigh Valley and West Chester, the Army is providing meals at three shelters.

In Stamford, CT:

• The Salvation Army has served more than 400 meals and served 650 dinners Tuesday night using supplies collected for this year’s Thanksgiving meal.

The Salvation Army’s Emergency and Disaster Services System

• The Salvation Army maintains a fleet of disaster vehicles and supply warehouses across the United States to enable speedy mobilization. There are more than 300 emergency response vehicles in the eastern and southern United States alone and nearly 600 units nationwide.
• In addition to food, hydration and emotional and spiritual care, The Salvation Army is also prepared to provide:
  • Clean-up kits containing brooms, mops, buckets and cleaning supplies
  • Hygiene kits
  • Shower units
  • First-aid supplies

Communications support

The Salvation Army also provides a ministry of presence to residents looking for hope in the midst of turmoil. Pastoral care is available for all those impacted but is not a prerequisite for receiving assistance. The Salvation Army encourages all residents of areas in the storm’s path to stay informed of and heed all warnings and evacuation orders. Disaster response professionals recommend having a three-to five- day supply of food and water for each member of your family as well as flashlights, medication and battery powered radios.

How you can help:

• The Salvation Army asks people who want to help those affected by this disaster to visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769). Donors may also contribute $10 via their phone bill by text messaging the word STORM to 80888, and confirming the donation with the word, “Yes.” *
• At this point, in-kind donations, such as used clothing and used furniture, are not being accepted for hurricane relief. However, these items are vital to supporting the day-to-day work of your local Salvation Army. Please consider giving these items to your local Salvation Army Family Store or dial 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825).
• Checks may be made out to The Salvation Army Disaster Services Center, PO BOX 1959 Atlanta, GA 30301. Please designate “2012 Hurricane Season” on all checks.
• For more information on The Salvation Army’s preparation and response to Hurricane Sandy, please visit http://blog.salvationarmyusa.org/, www.facebook.com/salvationarmyusa or www.twitter.com/salvationarmyus.

 *A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Message & Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint and TMobile. By participating you certify that you agree to the terms and conditions, that you are 18 yrs. or older, or have parental permission, and have authorization from the account holder. Donations are collected for the benefit of The Salvation Army by the Innovative Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at igfn.org/t. Privacy policy: igfn.org/p. Text STOP to 80888 to stop; Text HELP to 80888 for help.

Salvation Army Begins Service Deployment Ahead of Hurricane Sandy Landfall

Mobile Feeding Units Serving at Shelters; Prepared to Serve Thousands of Meals in Wake of Historic Storm

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — As Hurricane Sandy moves on-shore Monday and into Tuesday, The Salvation Army is already beginning feeding operations at shelters along the East Coast. Additionally, dozens of mobile feeding units, able to serve thousands of meals, are stocked and ready to deploy into the most heavily impacted areas once it is safe to do so in coordination with emergency management officials. Crews will provide food, hydration, clean-up kits as well as emotional and spiritual care.

“The Salvation Army is mobilized and ready to serve,” said Major George Hood, National Community Relations Secretary for The Salvation Army in the United States. “Our mobile feeding units and staff are strategically positioned and already beginning to serve at shelter locations throughout the East Coast.”

Specific Salvation Army activities include:

• In New Jersey, The Salvation Army is serving meals, snacks and drinks at 11 shelters in five counties. A full fleet of emergency response vehicles is ready to deploy if needed. This includes 10 fully-stocked mobile feeding units (canteens), two service vehicles, and one mobile command unit. A canteen is embedded with Task Force 1, the State’s official search and rescue team, at Lakehurst Naval Base and may travel with them as they are deployed throughout the state.

• In New York, The Salvation Army is coordinating with the local American Red Cross to provide volunteer support for shelters throughout Suffolk County. Eight canteens are equipped and ready to be deployed from the northern and western parts of the state.

• In Philadelphia, PA, The Salvation Army is working closely with the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management to ready three shelters within the city to help ensure those impacted by Hurricane Sandy will have access to essential services and safety.

• In North Carolina, Salvation Army volunteers worked for 34 hours feeding residents at a shelter in Morehead City. The Salvation Army in New Bern also served evacuees at a local shelter. Eight volunteers and two officers prepared 120 meals.

• In Virginia, The Salvation Army in Hampton Roads has been providing shelter since Saturday evening. A shelter in downtown Norfolk has served 350 meals and distributed 70 hygiene kits so far.

• In Maryland, The Salvation Army of Salisbury served lunch to more than 200 persons at a shelter on Sunday. The Army is also in assisting with sheltering and feeding activities in Annapolis and other parts of the state.

• The Salvation Army encourages all residents of areas in the storm’s path to stay informed of and heed all warnings and evacuation orders. Disaster response professionals recommend having a three-to-five day supply of food and water for each member of your family as well as flashlights, medication and battery powered radios.

The Salvation Army maintains a fleet of disaster vehicles and supply warehouses across the United States to enable speedy mobilization. There are more than 300 emergency response vehicles in the eastern and southern United States alone and nearly 600 units nationwide.
In addition to food, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care, The Salvation Army is also prepared to provide:

• Clean-up kits containing brooms, mops, buckets and cleaning supplies
• Hygiene kits
• Shower units
• First-aid supplies
• Communications support

The Salvation Army also provides a ministry of presence provides compassionate care to residents looking for hope in the midst of turmoil. Pastoral care is available for all those impacted, but is not a prerequisite for receiving assistance. The Salvation Army encourages all residents of areas in the storm’s path to stay informed of and heed all warnings and evacuation orders. Disaster response professionals recommend having a three to five day supply of food and water for each member of your family as well as flashlights, medication and battery powered radios.

The Salvation Army asks people who want to help those affected by this disaster to visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769). Donors may also contribute $10 via their phone bill by text messaging the word STORM to 80888, and confirming the donation with the word, “Yes.” * At this point, in-kind donations, such as used clothing and used furniture, are not being accepted for hurricane relief. However, these items are vital to supporting the day-to-day work of your local Salvation Army. Please consider giving these items to your local Salvation Army Family Store or dial 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825).

For more information on The Salvation Army’s preparation and response to Tropical Storm Isaac, please visit http://blog.salvationarmyusa.org/, www.facebook.com/salvationarmyusa or www.twitter.com/salvationarmyus.

*A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Message & Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint and TMobile. By participating you certify that you agree to the terms and conditions, that you are 18 yrs. or older, or have parental permission, and have authorization from the account holder. Donations are collected for the benefit of The Salvation Army by the Innovative Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at igfn.org/t. Privacy policy: igfn.org/p. Text STOP to 80888 to stop; Text HELP to 80888 for help.

SA Preps for Sandy

From blog.salvationarmyusa.org
With Hurricane Sandy set to make landfall within the next few days, The Salvation Army is working along the East Coast to prepare for the storm.

Already in Virginia and North Carolina, Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) teams are collaborating with emergency management officials to ensure preparedness. Additionally, in Hampton Roads, VA, The Salvation Army is preparing its mobile kitchen (canteen), which is capable of serving 1,000 meals per day, and The Salvation Army Men’s Hope Center Shelter in Norfolk, VA, is prepared and planning to open as necessary to host both men and women as the storm approaches.

Anyone who may be impacted by Sandy should keep an eye out for news updates and be prepared with an emergency disaster plan before the storm makes landfall. As always, The Salvation Army will be ready to help anyone in need – check back here for continued updates, as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages.

The Salvation Army asks people who want to help those affected by this disaster to visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).  Donors may also contribute $10 via their phone bill by text* messaging the word STORM to 80888, and confirming the donation with the word, “Yes.”

At this point, in-kind donations are not being accepted for hurricane relief. However, these gifts are vitally important in supporting the day-to-day work of your local Salvation Army. Please consider giving these items to your local Salvation Army Family Store or dial 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825).

*A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Message & Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint and TMobile. By participating you certify that you agree to the terms and conditions, that you are 18 yrs. or older, or have parental permission, and have authorization from the account holder. Donations are collected for the benefit of The Salvation Army by the Innovative Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at igfn.org/t. Privacy policy:igfn.org/p. Text STOP to 80888 to stop; Text HELP to 80888 for help.