PRESS RELEASE
Target Makes $50,000 Toy Donation
Amid
Record Supply Shortage
Donations down $2 million
ROSEVILLE, Minn. – December 17, 2008 – Target Corp. will donate $50,000 worth of toys to Salvation Army Toy Shops in Minneapolis and St. Paul on Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. The toys are a godsend to the Twin Cities Salvation Army, which is experiencing a record toy shortage, a record number of people needing Christmas assistance, and a donation shortfall of $2 million. This move enhanced Target’s national donations in 2008 of $2.4 million including a $200,000 donation of toys and gift cards to help other struggling Salvation Army toy shops.
Target employees will deliver $40,000 worth of toys to the Minneapolis Toy Shop, located at the National Guard Armory, 1025 Broadway St. NE. They will deliver another $10,000 worth of toys to the St. Paul Toy Shop, located at St. Paul’s National Guard Armory, 600 Cedar St.
More than 16,500 families have registered for Christmas assistance, a 2,000-family increase over last year. Currently, The Salvation Army does not have the toys or money to accommodate all of these families.
“If we don’t get more help, thousands of children could wake up on Christmas morning without a toy,” said Major Darryl Leedom, Commander of the Twin Cities Salvation Army. “This is getting extremely serious.”
Just as serious is the $2 million shortfall The Salvation Army is facing. As of today, The Salvation Army has raised just over $4 million in Christmas Campaign donations, compared to the more than $6 million it had raised a year ago. The overall Christmas goal is $8.5 million.
There are two easy ways to help the thousands of children and families depending on The Salvation Army this Christmas season:
● Donate new, unwrapped toys at any metro area Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club stores until Dec. 22.
● Donate money in a red kettle, online, by calling 800-SAL-ARMY, or by mailing a check to 2445 Prior Ave. N., Roseville, MN 55113.
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 2,100 hot meals every day and house more than 850 people every night.
