/PRNewswire/ -- Across the country, the nation's largest charitable organizations have reported drastic declines in donations. While The Salvation Army saw a national decline of 8.5% in revenue, thanks to a generous response to a summer Call To Action Fundraising Campaign, its metro Atlanta programs closed the year at just $620,000 (3%) below prior year totals. This holiday season, The Salvation Army Metro Atlanta is looking to new and aggressive online tactics to draw donations to its Virtual Red Kettles, and wireless credit card machines at a number of its Traditional Red Kettle locations.
"The Salvation Army is an organization steeped in history and tradition, but over the years our traditional kettle campaign has been weakened by a decline in retail shopping, increase in online shopping, and a shortage of retail outlets willing to allow kettles and bellringers outside of their locations," explains Major James Seiler, The Salvation Army Metro Atlanta Area Commander, who says the traditional red kettles will begin trickling out November 15th and will be in full swing by November 22nd.
"There are no plans to do away with the beloved kettle tradition, but technology now affords us new ways to attract a more diverse group, and larger gifts from those who wish to give."
Additionally, 30-50 of its traditional Red Kettle Bellringers at select Wal-mart, Simon Malls, and Sam's Club locations will be equipped with wireless credit card machines to allow passersby to donate more than the customary spare change.
On November 1st, The Salvation Army launched a Virtual Red Kettle Campaign on it's website at www.salvationarmyatlanta.org, which will be there through December 31, and is hosting weekly promotions on its Facebook and Twitter pages to engage new donors.
According to Seiler, The Salvation Army Metro Atlanta's 2009 Online Red Kettle campaign netted the organization $91,000 last holiday season. This year, the charitable organization hopes to raise at least $200,000.
"The virtual kettles allow us to expand the program's time frame and encourage larger average gifts than the change typically placed with Bellringers outside of the stores. They also help us reach donors who elect to do their holiday shopping online. The credit card machines at kettles mean those who typically do not carry cash can still stop by a kettle and make a donation."
Credit card kettles will be positioned at metro Atlanta area Wal-Marts, Simon Malls, and Kroger locations.
This year, 43,581 people received emergency assistance through The Salvation Army's Metro Atlanta area programs and services. Of them, 20,814 were first-time recipients of any form of Salvation Army assistance. A large number of them stated that they had contributed to The Salvation Army's Red Kettles in the past.
The 2009 Red Kettle Campaign raised $1.9 million dollars in funds used to provide new toys, clothing, meals, and provide emergency assistance to homeless and hungry families. This year, The Salvation Army Metro Atlanta hopes to raise $2.1 million to help address the increasing needs of local individuals and families in need.
Statistical highlights:
* 43,581 people received emergency assistance with rent, utilities and food assistance. (50% of whom were first-time recipients of Salvation Army services)
* 139,249 meals were served to homeless men, women and children
* 47,243 holiday gifts were distributed to impoverished children and the elderly
* 14,501 visits to the elderly, sick and shut-ins in institutions during the holidays
Find out more about The Salvation Army's Metro Atlanta programs, or become a holiday volunteer at www.salvationarmyatlanta.org, www.facebook.com/salvationarmymetroatlanta, @SalvationArmyA on Twitter.
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Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Friday, November 12, 2010
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Students Get Free PCs
HHG Note: This is wonderful! Perhaps some other counties could develop a similar project.
During the holidays, 50 lucky Georgia students got their own personal computer, and neither Santa nor their parents had to pay a penny. The free computers were awarded through Georgia 4-H’s Need-A-Computer Program.
The program began eight years ago as the brainchild of then 4-H’er Rachel McCarthy of Walton County. She and her father Jim refurbished donated computers for needy 4-H'ers in her home county. When she graduated, her sister Amanda inherited the project.
In 2003, the Georgia 4-H Youth Technology Leadership Team took the project to the state level. Since then, the team has awarded more than 200 computers to students across Georgia.
Must be a 4-H'er to apply
To apply for a free computer, students must be in the fifth through 12th grades and be a member of 4-H. The students must also write an essay about why they want and need a computer and submit letters of reference from their teachers and community leaders.
Members of the 4-H technology team or collegiate 4-H’ers deliver the computers to 4-H Fall Forum where the computers are picked up by representatives of the winners’ local UGA Cooperative Extension office. The 4-H agent then delivers the computer to the winner.
Sixth-grader Beatriz Jiminez of Eastman was one of the lucky computer winners. Jiminez’s reasons for wanting a computer weren’t purely selfish.
A bilingual student, she helps her teachers by translating for a student who doesn’t speak English, said Beverly Green, Jiminez’s 4-H leader.
“She was so excited when I told she had won that she grabbed me and gave me a big hug,” Green said. “The possibilities are endless for her now that she has a computer, and she can help many other students, too.”
Donated computers
“All 50 computers were donated from George Walton Academy in Monroe," said Cheryl Varnadoe, a UGA Extension 4-H specialist and the technology leadership team's state coordinator.
The team accepts computer donations all year and stores them in a room donated by StorageMart. Each fall they refurbish the computers for the winning applicants. This includes loading them with licensed software programs.
"Most of the computers are two or three years old," Varnadoe said. "We don't accept older computers because we want to give the students computers that will be capable of running current programs and the Internet."
This year, the tech team received 160 applications for the 50 available computers.
For more information on donating a computer or to apply for the 2009 program, visit www.georgia4h.org/public/edops/techteam/Need-A-Computer/default.htm.
By Sharon Dowdy
University of Georgia
Sharon Dowdy is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
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Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
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Georgia Front Page
During the holidays, 50 lucky Georgia students got their own personal computer, and neither Santa nor their parents had to pay a penny. The free computers were awarded through Georgia 4-H’s Need-A-Computer Program.
The program began eight years ago as the brainchild of then 4-H’er Rachel McCarthy of Walton County. She and her father Jim refurbished donated computers for needy 4-H'ers in her home county. When she graduated, her sister Amanda inherited the project.
In 2003, the Georgia 4-H Youth Technology Leadership Team took the project to the state level. Since then, the team has awarded more than 200 computers to students across Georgia.
Must be a 4-H'er to apply
To apply for a free computer, students must be in the fifth through 12th grades and be a member of 4-H. The students must also write an essay about why they want and need a computer and submit letters of reference from their teachers and community leaders.
Members of the 4-H technology team or collegiate 4-H’ers deliver the computers to 4-H Fall Forum where the computers are picked up by representatives of the winners’ local UGA Cooperative Extension office. The 4-H agent then delivers the computer to the winner.
Sixth-grader Beatriz Jiminez of Eastman was one of the lucky computer winners. Jiminez’s reasons for wanting a computer weren’t purely selfish.
A bilingual student, she helps her teachers by translating for a student who doesn’t speak English, said Beverly Green, Jiminez’s 4-H leader.
“She was so excited when I told she had won that she grabbed me and gave me a big hug,” Green said. “The possibilities are endless for her now that she has a computer, and she can help many other students, too.”
Donated computers
“All 50 computers were donated from George Walton Academy in Monroe," said Cheryl Varnadoe, a UGA Extension 4-H specialist and the technology leadership team's state coordinator.
The team accepts computer donations all year and stores them in a room donated by StorageMart. Each fall they refurbish the computers for the winning applicants. This includes loading them with licensed software programs.
"Most of the computers are two or three years old," Varnadoe said. "We don't accept older computers because we want to give the students computers that will be capable of running current programs and the Internet."
This year, the tech team received 160 applications for the 50 available computers.
For more information on donating a computer or to apply for the 2009 program, visit www.georgia4h.org/public/edops/techteam/Need-A-Computer/default.htm.
By Sharon Dowdy
University of Georgia
Sharon Dowdy is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
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Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
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