The Salvation Army Christmas Toy Shop in Marquette & Munising will be curbside drive-thru
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Capt. Doug Winters
(906) 226-2241
[email protected]
The Salvation Army Christmas Toy Shop in Marquette and Munising will be curbside drive-through only; Kaufman Foundation supports Toy Drive
Marquette County, MI (December 10, 2020) –To protect volunteers, staff and participants, The Salvation Army of Marquette County announce that the Toy Shop will be curbside drive-through only in 2020. This supports the recent request by our Governor to limit gatherings, and will support efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Salvation Army volunteers will pre-pack toys and gifts for family distribution. Face masks, hand sanitizers, and social distancing will be in place with volunteer ‘elves’ who will place gifts directly into participant vehicles with no contact.
“While we usually want to encourage parents to select individual gifts for their children, we really can’t take the risk of potentially being a super-spreader event”, said Captain Doug Winters of The Salvation Army of Marquette County. “Getting the right toys and gifts to the right kids is still our priority”. As part of the registration process, parents were asked to give detailed wish lists for each child, and these wish lists will be used as much as possible by volunteers to select gifts for each family. “Many families had already requested that gifts be pre-packed to limit exposure,“ said Winters.
All participants are asked to bring their verification letter to the distribution as identification. In Marquette, participants will drive-up to the exterior doors of the Westwood Mall at the prior MC Sports Store and will be given instructions for picking up gifts. Participants will be asked to wear masks (unless medically unable) and remain in their vehicles during distribution. In Alger County, participants will drive-up to the MDHHS building at 413 Maple St., Munising to The Salvation Army truck.
Additionally today, The Kaufman Foundation announced that they would become a major donor to the Christmas Toy Shop with a presentation of $5,000 to The Salvation Army. “We are so grateful to Peter and Audrey Kaufman and the Foundation Board for their support of families in need at this time of year, and for all they do for our community”, said Winters at the check presentation today.
Other supporters of the Toy Shop include direct donations to The Salvation Army, the Cheer Club of The Mining Journal, the Walmart Angel Tree program, and Toys for Tots of Marquette and Alger Counties. The total number of participants for this year is still being tabulated. Last year 367 families and 741 kids received gifts from The Salvation Army through the Toy Shop and Adopt-a-Family programs.
Visit RescueChristmas.org to donate or learn more about how you can help The Salvation Army “Rescue Christmas” this year. Every donation provides help and hope to the most vulnerable, and all gifts stay within the local area in which they are given. If you need services or know of someone in need, please visit SalvationArmyUSA.org to find a location near you. The Salvation Army of Marquette County serves Marquette, Alger and eastern Baraga Counties.
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About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army annually helps more than 23 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.