PRESS RELEASE
Target Helps Renovate Child Wing of Salvation Army
Facility in Ailing St. Paul Neighborhood
Dedication ceremony to be held Oct. 21
ROSEVILLE, Minn. – October 21, 2009 – In a time when resources are dwindling for children living in the Eastside neighborhood of St. Paul, support from Target Corp. has allowed the Payne Ave. Salvation Army to ramp up its outreach efforts.
The local retailer recently gave more than $50,000 toward a complete makeover of the facility’s child education wing, including computer upgrades and new chairs, tables and bookcases. In addition, volunteers from Target painted the walls of several rooms in bright orange, blue and green.
The Payne Ave. Salvation Army offers quality after-school care to more than 60 children a day, including education programs, sporting activities, nutritious food and a positive environment.
“We are thankful that Target recognizes the significance of education and opportunity in the success of children and families living in the Eastside neighborhood,” said Major Darryl Leedom, Commander of the Twin Cities Salvation Army. “This wonderful gift from Target is more than a response to faded paint and broken furniture – it is a call to action to combat the challenges in this community.”
In recent months several service providers in the Eastside neighborhood have been forced to either scale down or eliminate their child programs, a situation that has left an estimated 200 children without after-school care. The Payne Ave. Salvation Army has created a waiting list for some of these children, as staff members attempt to expand child programming using the limited space and resources they have available.
A dedication ceremony to celebrate the new renovations will be held at the Payne Ave. Salvation Army (1019 Payne Ave. St Paul) on Oct. 21 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., when children will enjoy snacks and games in their new surroundings. The event will feature guest speaker Lee Buckley, Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s top advisor for the state’s Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives.
Much of Target’s donation came through its Target Library Grant, a
$1 million fund that provided $25,000 to 40 Salvation Army divisions across the U.S.
Target offers support to Salvation Army facilities in the Twin Cities and across the nation. The company recently held “Target School Spree,” a program that allowed 200 children served by the Twin Cities Salvation Army to buy $100 worth of new back-to-school clothing and supplies. In addition, 130 Target employees have already signed up to volunteer at Salvation Army Toy Shop, which provides gifts to thousands of children in need during the holidays.
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.
