PRESS RELEASE

The Salvation Army Delivers 3,700
Easter Bags to Red River Valley

April 9, 2009 – Yesterday’s “Easter Cheer Rolls to Red River” effort by The Salvation Army and its partners yielded more than 3,700 bags of Easter treats that are today being delivered to children in the North Dakota cities of Fargo, Valley City, Jamestown, and Grand Forks, plus Oslo, Minn., which is surrounded by water and accessible only via airboat.

The treats are being delivered to North Dakota communities all this afternoon. Afterward, at about 5 p.m., Salvation Army staff will travel via airboat to Oslo (near Grand Forks) to hand out more Easter bags, and to serve the community chilly and hot dogs.

“The only things coming into (Oslo) are supplies so they can survive until the water recedes," said Captain Jim Brickson, Salvation Army disaster coordinator in Grand Forks, about 15 miles from Oslo. “Can you imagine not being able to get in or out of town unless it is an emergency?”

Yesterday's Easter bag effort was held at Grace Church in Eden Prairie and included about 200 volunteers who helped package hundreds of pounds of donated candy into Easter bags. Many of the volunteers also wrote personalized messages on Easter cards that displayed a Christian message. These cards were placed into each Easter bag.

Among the volunteers were Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sage Rosenfels, receiver Bobby Wade and center John Sullivan. The Vikings also donated $10,000 to The Salvation Army for flood relief efforts.

“You know,” Rosenfels said to those gathered, “I’m from Iowa and I know about the kinds of neighbors and friends we all have living here in the Midwest. So it’s no surprise that we are all coming together here to help our neighbors that have been affected by the Red River flood.”

To date, The Salvation Army has served 101,000 meals, 181,000 drinks and 180,000 snacks to tens of thousands of volunteers and flood responders in both the Fargo/Moorhead area and other flood-affected communities.

The Salvation Army Northern Division serves more than 485,000 people in Minnesota and North Dakota. Donations to The Salvation Army can also be made by calling 800-SAL-ARMY or online by clicking below.