PRESS RELEASE
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman to Speak
During 48-Hour Charity Drive
Toys, coats, food needed Oct. 22-24 during ‘Operation Donation’
ROSEVILLE, Minn. – October 21, 2009 – St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman is scheduled to speak during “Operation Donation,” a 48-hour charity drive created by members of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) and the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM).
The drive begins Thursday, Oct. 22 at noon at the parking lot of the AFA Northwest Airlines Building C, located across the street from Fort Snelling National Cemetery at the corner of 34th Ave. and E. 75th St. in Bloomington. The drive ends Saturday, Oct. 24 at noon.
In those 48 hours, airline industry workers and the public can stop by day or night to donate new or gently used clothes and coats, new toys and non-perishable food items. Monetary donations will be accepted at nearby Wings Financial.
Mayor Coleman and other dignitaries will help kick off the drive Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. Additional speakers include Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson, State Sen. David Tomassoni (D-Chisholm), Salvation Army officials and others.
“We are encouraging the public and the more than 10,000 airline industry professionals who work nearby to come and support this worthwhile effort by the AFA and IAM,” said Major Darryl Leedom, Commander of the Twin Cities Salvation Army. “This drive comes at a time when we have been seeing a 150 percent increase in food demand. In addition, the need for some of our other services – including holiday toys and youth coats – is up more than 25 percent. We are hoping to receive a great deal of support at this wonderful event.”
Donated coats will be distributed Oct. 29 to thousands of families through the Twin Cities Salvation Army’s “Coats for Kids” program. Toy and food donations will be distributed throughout the holidays at local Salvation Army operation centers.
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. It serves 2,100 hot meals a day and houses more than 850 people every night.
To volunteer with The Salvation Army or to make a credit card donation, call 651-746-3400 or 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Checks made out to The Salvation Army may be sent to 2445 Prior Ave., Roseville, MN 55113. Click below to make an online donation.
