Lastest News and Events
Oklahoma Tornado Relief Effort
The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) is providing food, beverage, and spiritual support to survivors and first responders following the severe tornado activity and damage in Oklahoma yesterday and today.
The Salvation Army is currently mobilizing disaster response units to serve hard-hit areas in Central Oklahoma, including Moore and South Oklahoma City.
read moreFREE DONUTS IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL DONUT DAY
National Donut Day
Saturday, June 1st
9 am – 9 pm CherryVale Mall 7200 Harrison Ave, Rockford District Entrance (outside by Barnes & Noble) In celebration of the 75th Annual Donut Day FREE DONUTS will be distributed out of The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services Canteen outside the District Entrance at CherryVale Mall next to Barnes & Noble. Come have your picture taken with a “real” DONUT GIRL FROM WWI. VOLUNTEERS are needed to help with the solicitation of funds and for serving donuts in the canteen. You can signup online at www.ringbells.org or call 815-962-7207. This event is sponsored in part by SCHUNCKS and CHERRYVALE MALL.75th Annual National Donut Day Fun Facts:
- The Salvation Army started National Donut Day during the Great Depression as a way to raise funds and bring awareness to The Salvation Army’s social service programs.
- National Donut Day commemorates the “donut lassies,” female Salvation Army volunteers who provided writing supplies, stamps, clothes-mending and home-cooked meals, and of course, donuts, for soldiers on the front lines.
- Approximately 250 Salvation Army volunteers provided assistance to American soldiers in France starting in 1917 during WWI.
- With limited resources, these treats were fried, only seven at a time. The Salvation Army’s Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance cleverly thought of frying donuts in soldiers’ helmets.
- Last year, 30 million Americans received assistance from The Salvation Army’s 3,600 officers, 60,000 employees and 3.4 million volunteers.
Thanking Donors During National Salvation Army Week
During National Salvation Army Week, The Salvation Army was out at Cherry Vale Mall thanking donors in Winnebago County who have helped contribute more than $800,000.
To see video click here.
read moreCan-Struction AmeriCAN Flag Complete
In five days, 4,000 canned goods were stacked, taped, and secured to each other to form an AmeriCAN flag at center court in CherryVale Mall in Rockford. This canned edifice represents the creativity and collaboration that is alive and well within the Rockford community and it brings awareness to the needs of others through the idea of “You CAN make a difference.” the need to bring awareness to . This project is part of a month long celebration of creativity through Rockford’s Out of the Box community initiative. The AmeriCAN flag will be on display throughout the month of May and volunteers are to be Project Hosts. You can signup for a 2-hour shift at www.ringbells.org or call 815-962-7207.
All 4,000 plus cans of food are being donated to The Salvation Army Food Pantry. Volunteers are needed for tear down on Saturday, June 1st from 8 – 10 pm. Closed toe shoes are required and you have be able work use a box cutter, bend, pack cans into boxes and lift boxes. You can signup online at www.ringbells.org or call 815-962-7207.
Many thanks to SAM FURMAN of the GroundUP, Rockford AIA Architects, and volunteers for building the AmeriCAN Flag.
Many, many thanks to Rockford’s Out of the Box community initiative, the brainchild of the the Superintendent of Rockford Lutheran Schools, Don Gillingham and Communications Director, Nancee Long. For more information on community events please visit http://www.rockfordlutheran.com/outofthebox/
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