Hamper Handout Day

The Salvation Army in Saskatoon is giving out a couple thousand Christmas Hampers today in addition to the ones given out by Brent and Penny's Adopt a Family and Denny Carr's Secret Santa.  In all around 5000 hampers will be distributed to families in need over the holidays.

Today was hamper distribution day and I was able to get in just before we opened to the public today to take some photos of what the Salvation Army and the people of Saskatoon were able to give out this Christmas.  Thanks to everyone who gave to the Star Phoenix's Sporting Christmas, at the kettles, at the Centre, and to both Adopt a Family and Secret Santa.  We made a huge difference!

Food hampers ready to distribute.  In addition to the food in these boxes, each family receives a turkey or a ham, carrots and potatoes.

The bags are full of toys for the children.  Each bag was specifically put together with toys from Rock 102's Toy Soldier campaign.  The toys are wrapped, sorted, and are waiting here for families to come and pick them up.

We See What Most Don't

You can give at the Centre or at any one of our kettles located throughout Saskatoon.

2008 Santa Shuffle Photos

Nathan Regamey took some excellent photographs of the 2008 Santa Shuffle held in Saskatoon on December 6th, 2008.

The annual Santa Shuffle Fun Run & Elf Walk brings families and friends together. The event is held across North America and we had a record number of runners and walkers taking part in 2008.  This merry event helps The Salvation Army to assist families and individuals in need during the Christmas season and throughout the year.  A big thanks to everyone who participated in the run and helped make a difference in the lives of Saskatoon families this year!

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Rock 102’s Toy Soldier Programs “Wraps Up”

 

“There is nothing that says ‘Christmas Spirit’ like the community coming together to help a less fortunate child have a toy to open on Christmas Morning.” says Shack, Rock 102’s Morning Show host.

This morning 120 Saskatoon volunteers gathered at the Salvation Army Warehouse and wrapped thousands of toys, as part of Rock 102’s 2^nd Annual Toy Soldier Wrap Day!

The 1^st Annual Wrap Day made history in 2007 as the first year ever local children of Saskatoon had wrapped presents in their Salvation Army hampers. Volunteers & Rock 102 wrapped over 15,000 gifts, all of which were donated to the Rock 102 Toy Solider campaign by thousands of generous individuals in Saskatoon.

Over 18,000 toys were collected this year!

Thank you to all of the volunteers, our sponsors, Midtown Plaza, Mc Donalds, SMP and the Royal Bank. A special thank you goes to everyone who donated a toy and to SGI & Zellers for their generosity.

The Salvation Army will distribute all toys to needy families on December 22^nd.

2008 Kettle Kick-Off Photos

Thanks to the photography of Nathan Regamey, we have some excellent photos from the 2008 Christmas Kettle Kick Off Dinner at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Rock 102 Toy Soldier Campaign

Help a Child Smile This Christmas.

Become a part of Rock 102’s Toy Soldier by encouraging your workplace, family and friends to collect unwrapped, new toys! Last year we collected and wrapped over 15,000 toys making history, thanks to the generosity of… YOU! This year we want to ensure every single child in Saskatoon has a present under their Christmas Tree. One toy makes a huge difference.

With the support of Midtown Plaza, McDonalds, Royal Bank, SMP and the generosity from YOU, we plan to make sure every less fortunate child in Saskatoon has a reason to smile this Christmas.

There are two ways you can help:

1) Purchase a new toy and drop it off directly at a Rock 102 Toy Depot and head to any toy store in Saskatoon, purchase a toy and then drop it off at any of our Toy Depots:

Midtown Plaza, any McDonalds, any Royal Bank, SMP, Toys R Us, Pumpkins & Monkeys Toys, The Giggle Factory, GO Toys and Games, Canadian Tire, Shoppers Drug Mart Canarama, Shoppers Drug Mart Market Mall, Shoppers Drug Mart Preston Crossing, and The Bay

OR

2) Encourage your workplace to collect toys internally!

Here are our participating businesses:

Northern Resource Trucking, Marlin Travel - Midtown, Elite Property Managment, CAA Saskatchewan, Rentalsman Office Provincial Mediation Board, Bank Of Montreal Preston & 8th, North End Dental, Warman Home Centre, Cloverdale Paint, BCDR mechanical repair service, Saskatoon Appliance, Marlin Travel-Lawson Heights Mall, All Saskatoon fire Departments, Picman Tattoo, Thanes Big T Auto Repair, Saskatoon Health Region, Yanke Group of Companies, Thomas Rock Iron Works, Acklands-Grainger, Gibbons Heating, Labour Standards, Handy Special Events, 3rd Ave United Church, St Johns Anglican Cathedral, Grace Lutheran Church, SGI, Zellers, Confederation Mall,

Round up your troops and collect toys within your business. Encourage staff members to participate by purchasing a new toy (price doesn’t matter). For more information or to sign up by clicking here. Or call 934.2222 Ext 362.

All toys will be donated to the Salvation Army Christmas Hamper Campaign!

The Star Phoenix Sporting Christmas

The Star Phoenix Sporting Christmas is 33 years old and has raised a whopping $903,668.60 over the last 32 years for Salvation Army Christmas hampers.  According to the Star Phoenix

Sporting Christmas is all grown up -- 33 years old this winter, with a sterling reputation and a lengthy list of friends and acquaintances.

Every winter, while people prepare for December gatherings around home and hearth, our Sporting Christmas fund is nearby.

Money raised through Sporting Christmas goes straight to the Salvation Army, which provides Christmas hampers for 2,000 to 3,000 families.

The StarPhoenix administers the campaign, but we don't take a single penny.

Every bit raised goes into helping families who otherwise don't have the means to provide the Christmas basics so many of us take for granted.

Think of it as one big, long-running Christmas gift -- one that's raised $903,668.60 during the last 32 years.

That total includes $66,780 last winter -- our second-highest total ever -- with more to come in 2008.

Our daily Sporting Christmas updates traditionally run on the front sports section, but this year, we're trying something a little different.

We plan to shift our updates to the front page of the paper many days, because let's face it -- our donors don't have to be sports fans to participate.

This is a fund for everybody, whether you have $1 to give, or $5, or $1,000, or any number that feels right for you.

We are thrilled to have partners like the Star Phoenix as we work together to ensure that everyone in Saskatoon has a wonderful Christmas.

Wal-Mart and the Salvation Army Partnering to Help Those in Need

Today some of us were at Wal-Mart at Confederation Park Mall for the kick off of the Christmas Kettle Campaign.  It is a national kick-off in Saskatoon and nine other cities across Canada.  You can read more about the national campaign here while if you want to look at some photos from the Saskatoon kick off, you can find them here.

Denny Carr's Secret Santa

Our friends at the Denny Carr's Secret Santa Foundation kicked off their Christmas campaign today. 

The Salvation Army Denny Carr's Secret Santa was started by CFQC morning man Denny Carr in 1983. Since then its has become one of the most successful campaigns in the city raising donations to help 600 needy families by providing food hampers and unwrapped toys for children 12 and under.

Saskatoon Media Group General Manager  Vic Dubois says the annual event has proven successful because it focuses on children whose families may not be able to provide food or gifts at Christmas. It's gained support over the years from a number of corporations including TCU Financial, Co-op Food Stores, SJ Irvine Fine Foods, and the Carolling Firefighters who raise funds by singing at various establishments during the period leading up to Christmas .

Dubois says his group couldn't do it on their own, and praises the support the campaign gets saying its an entire community effort. There are drop off points throughout the city, including City Hall where unwrapped toys can be left and cash donations made on behalf of Denny Carr's Secret Santa campaign. Mayor Don Atchison made the first toy donation at this morning's kickoff event.

The Salvation Army Toy Ride | September 6

All Motorcycles Welcome

Where: Prairieland Park (rain or shine)

Time: Breakfast @ 9:00 a.m.  Ride starts at 11:00 a.m.

Ride from Prairieland Park (Marquis Downs Cook Shack) to the Saskatoon Inn

Enjoy a barbecue at the Saskatoon Inn after the ride.

For more information contact Major Henri at 306.260.9057 or via email.