PRESS RELEASE

Candy for 9,000 Easter Bags Needed by Tomorrow for
Children of Red River Valley
Star Minnesota Vikings Players Join Effort

Roseville, Minn. – April 7, 2009 – A lack of candy donations has put The Salvation Army well short of raising enough candy to fill 10,000 Easter bags for children of the Red River Valley.

Although The Salvation Army has 150 volunteers prepared to bag up Easter treats on Wednesday, April 8 at Grace Church in Eden Prairie, few candy donations have been given, leaving the effort short by about 9,000 bags.

"We've got enough candy to fill about 1,000 bags right now," said Lt. Colonel Daniel Sjogren, Salvation Army divisional commander. "Today we got some help from our friends at Target, and from a company in Kansas City that is sending us 40 pounds of candy. This is a great start, but the only way we can reach our goal is by the public giving us all the candy they can."

The Easter goodies will be prepared at Grace Church tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. by volunteers that include Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sage Rosenfels, receiver Bobby Wade and center John Sullivan. The Salvation Army will deliver the bags to children of the Red River Valley on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

GET INVOLVED
The public can participate by donating individually wrapped Easter candy or a chocolate bunny until 4 p.m. today, or tomorrow from 9 a.m. until noon, at The Salvation Army, 2445 Prior Ave. N. in Roseville, (MAP) or Grace Church, 9301 Eden Prairie Rd. (MAP)

A “Cheer Caravan” will leave the Twin Cities with the Easter bags on Thursday, April 9 and distribute them to several communities along northbound Interstate 94. The Salvation Army will continue its distribution in the Red River Valley Friday and Saturday at various locations and times.

Transportation to the Red River Valley is made possible by KLK Productions, a Minneapolis-based event services and transportation company. Additional corporate donors include Cub Foods, Target, Warner Press, the Minnesota Wild, Liberty Carton and Heartland Candies.

The Salvation Army thanks the following sponsors: