PRESS RELEASE
Target Workers Shop for $100k in Toys for The Salvation Army
ROSEVILLE, Minn. – December 17, 2007 – Target store employees will shop tonight at the retail company’s locations in Vadnais Heights, North St. Paul, Minneapolis Northeast and Roseville for truckloads of toys valued at $100,000. The employees will also package the toys into crates and prepare them for delivery to Salvation Army Toy Shops, which open today. In addition to labor, Target has donated $25,000 in Target gift cards for distribution at Salvation Army Toy Shops.
“Shopping for thousands of toys requires staff-hours that we do not have right now,” said Terry Hildebrandt, social services director of the Twin Cities Salvation Army. “Target’s donation of labor is an immeasurable blessing – this is our busiest week of the year.”
Money for the shopping spree was donated when the public responded to The Salvation Army’s massive toy shortage, an unexpected deficit caused by a 50 percent increase in families needing Christmas assistance.
Last year Toy Shop served 8,500 families and 26,000 children. This year more than 13,200 families have signed up for assistance, which includes 36,300 children. In addition to toys for the children, Toy Shops provide each family with a $40 grocery gift card for a Christmas meal. More than 1,500 volunteers help staff The Salvation Army’s three Toy Shops in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Rosemount.
Photo Ops (locations below): Trucks from The Salvation Army will receive pallets of toys from loading docks at four Target locations at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 18. The trucks will bring the items to Toy Shop locations at National Guard Armories in Minneapolis and St. Paul. A Salvation Army representative will be on hand at the Roseville Target listed below.
Locations for toy pick ups:
-Roseville Target: 1515 County Rd B West (Salvation Army rep on hand at 10 a.m.)
-North St. Paul Target: 2199 Hwy 36 E.
-Minneapolis NE Target: 1650 New Brighton Blvd
-Vadnais Heights Target: 975 County Rd E
The Salvation Army serves more than 200,000 people in the Twin Cities and is a safety net for those with no place to turn. We serve 1,100 hot meals every day and house more than 700 people every night. Donations can be made by mailing a check to 2445 Prior Ave, Roseville, MN 55113 or by clicking below.
