The Salvation Army in Greater Columbus

Holiday Volunteering Letter

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Red Kettles
Christmas Cheer Registration
Christmas Cheer Distribution
Christmas Cheer Cart Runners
Christmas Cheer Fork Lift Drivers
Adopt-a-Family
Toy and Food Drives
Choice Pantries

September 2007

Dear Volunteer:

Doing the Most Good…starts with you. My name is Jean Griffith and I am the new Volunteer Coordinator for The Salvation Army. Our busiest time of year is right around the corner. As we prepare to provide food, toys, coats and other items to thousands of individuals and families who are less fortunate this Holiday Season, we look to the generosity of the community to help us make it possible.

Last year we provided Christmas toys and food to almost 6,000 families, raised almost $500,000 through the Red Kettles, and provided over 2,500 adults and children with warm winter coats. None of this would have been possible without the help of our volunteers--you really do make a difference!

Below is a description of our volunteer needs over the next few months. Please note the volunteer age policies listed at the end of each volunteer description.

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Christmas Kettles

One of the most recognized symbols of The Salvation Army is the bell ringer with a Red Kettle standing in front of a grocery store or shopping mall. Each year the Red Kettle effort raises hundreds of thousands of dollars to support all of our social service programs and ministries.

We are looking for friendly volunteers to stand at a Kettle and ring a bell for The Salvation Army. The Kettle Campaign runs from November 15th through December 24th. There are many days, times and locations available. Volunteers must be at least 13 years old. If you would like to volunteer at a Kettle, please contact Stephanie Koscher at 614-403-0404 or sykoscher@hotmail.com.

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Christmas Cheer Registration (November 12 - 16 and November 26 - 30)

Families must be pre-registered to receive assistance through Christmas Cheer. Volunteers are needed at our worship and service centers to greet families and help the head of household complete registration information. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

Volunteer Shifts for Christmas Cheer Registration:

Location	Mon. Nov. 12 Mon. Nov. 26	Tues. Nov. 13 Tues. Nov. 27	Wed. Nov. 14 Wed. Nov. 28	Thurs. Nov. 15 Thurs. Nov. 29	Fri. Nov. 16 Fri. Nov. 30
760 Worthington Woods Blvd.	9:30a—2:30p	9:30a—2:30p, 4:30p—8:00p	9:30a—2:30p	9:30a—2:30p, 4:30p—8:00p	9:30a—2:30p
3167 Cleveland Ave.	9:30a—2:30p	9:30a—2:30p, 4:30p—8:00p	9:30a—2:30p	9:30a—2:30p, 4:30p—8:00p	9:30a—2:30p
2300 W. Mound St.	9:30a—2:30p	9:30a—2:30p, 4:30p—8:00p	9:30a—2:30p	9:30a—2:30p, 4:30p—8:00p	9:30a—2:30p
966 E. Main St.	9:30a—2:30p	9:30a—2:30p, 4:30p—8:00p	9:30a—2:30p	9:30a—2:30p, 4:30p—8:00p	9:30a—2:30p

Christmas Cheer (December 17 - 21)

The Christmas Cheer program takes place at the DiSalle Center at the Ohio State Fair Grounds. Volunteers are needed to assemble boxes, decorate the Center, sort food and toys, fill food boxes, register families, give out toys and clean up. Unless otherwise noted, all volunteers for the Cheer program must be at least 13 years old.

Volunteer Shifts for Christmas Cheer (NOT including Toy Shop and Shoppers):

Fri. Dec. 14 Set-Up**	Mon. Dec. 17 Set-Up	Tues. Dec. 18 Set-Up	Wed. Dec. 19 Distribution	Thurs. Dec. 20 Distribution	Fri. Dec. 21 Clean-Up**
10:00a – 3:00p	8:30a – 12:30p	9:00a – 11:30a	8:30a – 10:30a	8:30a – 1:45p	8:30a –2:00p
	12:30p – 3:30p	11:15a – 2:15p	10:30a – 1:30p	1:30p – 4:15p
	3:00p – 5:00p	2:00p – 5:00p		4:00p – 6:45p

**Volunteers for the two Friday shifts need to be able to lift heavy items and unload delivery trucks.

Volunteer Shifts for Toy Shop and Shoppers--must be at least 18 years old:

Mon. Dec. 17 Set-Up	Tues. Dec. 18 Set-Up	Wed. Dec. 19 Distribution	Thurs. Dec. 20 Distribution	Fri. Dec. 21 Clean-Up
---	---	10:30a – 1:30p	8:30a – 1:45p	---
---	---	1:15p – 4:15p	1:30p – 4:15p	---
---	---	4:00p – 6:45 p	4:00p – 6:45p	---
---	---	6:30p – 9:30p	6:30p – 9:30p	---
---	---			---

Cart Runners

In addition to the Christmas Cheer needs listed above, we need volunteers to help families out to their cars with their food boxes. These volunteers are called Cart Runners. We need Cart Runners during the following shifts:

Wed. December 19	Thurs. December 20
5:15p -- 9:30p	2:15p -- 4:15p
	4:00p -- 6:45p
	6:30p – 9:30p

Cart Runners must be at least 13 years old and able to lift a box weighing approximately 30 lbs.

Christmas Cheer Fork Lift Drivers

We continue our quest for Fork Lift drivers! We need forklift drivers on Monday, December 17 through Friday, December 21 to help load and unload items from semi trucks. If you or anyone you know may be interested, please let me know.
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Adopt-a-Family

Each year families in need are adopted by corporate and community sponsors through The Salvation Army’s Adopt-a-Family program. We need volunteers on Monday, December 17 through Thursday, December 20 to help give out the gifts to the families!.

Monday December 17- 8:30am-12:00pm, 12:00pm-3:30pm or 3:30pm-6:30pm
Tuesday December 18- 8:30am-12:00pm, 12:00pm-3:30pm or 3:30pm-6:30pm
Wednesday December 19- 8:30am-12:00pm or 12:00pm-3:30pm
Thursday December 20- 8:30am-12:00pm, 12:00pm-3:30pm or 3:30pm-6:30pm
Location: 966 E. Main St.

We could use up to 10 people per shift. Volunteers would be helping to sort and distribute the gifts for the adopted families.

Please contact me at 614.358.2627 for details.
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Toy and Food Drives

The Salvation Army is looking for groups to sponsor new toy drives and canned food drives for our Cheer distribution. We will pick up the collected items during the first two weeks of December at your convenience. The food and toys will supplement the holiday baskets given to families during Cheer. Please call 614.221.6561 for details.
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Choice Food Pantries

The Salvation Army operates four Choice Food Pantries in the Greater Columbus area. The Choice Pantries

restore dignity to our clients by allowing them to choose the food items their families need and enjoy. We have

an ongoing need for volunteers for two-hour shifts on weekdays between 9:00am and 3:00pm to help families

shop and stock pantry shelves. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Pantry locations include:

East Main Choice Pantry: 966 E. Main St. in Columbus

West Mound Choice Pantry: 2300 W. Mound St. in Columbus

Linden Choice Pantry: 3167 Cleveland Ave. in Columbus

Worthington Woods Choice Pantry: 760 Worthington Woods Blvd. in Worthington

Thank you for partnering with The Salvation Army to bring hope and joy to families in need this Holiday Season! Unless another contact person is listed above, you can contact me for more information and/or to sign up to volunteer at jean.griffith@use.salvationarmy.org, or 614-358-2627.

Sincerely,

Jean Griffith

The Salvation Army in Greater Columbus

Holiday Volunteering Letter

For more information about any of the opportunities listed above, please contact Jean Griffith at 614.358.2627.