Volunteer to host a real or virtual angel tree or red kettle and make holiday wishes come true for children in need #RescueChristmas
The Salvation Army of Broward County is seeking corporate support for its fundraising campaigns this year that have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses are encouraged to join forces to help make wishes come true for underserved families.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Corporations and small businesses can make a huge community impact this holiday season for thousands of Broward children in need. The Salvation Army of Broward County is imploring the South Florida community to help “Rescue Christmas” by volunteering to host a real or virtual Angel Tree which annually makes wishes come true for underserved families or help fundraise through a virtual Red Kettle.
“The Salvation Army of Broward County’s corporate support for the holidays has taken a huge hit as a result of layoffs, furloughs and at-home employment attributed to the recent COVID-19 pandemic,” said Major Stephen Long, area commander for The Salvation Army of Broward County. “We’re currently at 50 percent of last year’s Angel Tree enrollment and the way we must engage with donors this season puts our beloved kettle campaign at risk. Now, more than ever, we need the generosity, commitment and faith of those in a position to help to bring joy to those less fortunate.”
Businesses can support the Broward community in two ways:
Register to host a real or virtual Angel Tree. – Each company that chooses this option will get either a physical tree with Angel names and actual angel tags detailing a child’s wishes, sizing and other pertinent information plus packaging and instructions or a private registry and link where employees can browse and choose from a list of items, each accompanied by a blurb detailing the child recipient’s name, gender and age. Each Angel donor fulfills the gift request on the tag ($25 to $30 per child, as this may be the only gift the child receives). Unwrapped gifts may be delivered by Friday, Dec.14, to The Salvation Army of Broward County’s headquarters or arrangements can be made, in advance, for the gifts to be picked-up. Collected gifts will be sorted and organized by volunteers for Toy Shop drive-through distribution December 18 – 21.
Host a virtual Red Kettle or sponsor a location – To help meet the increased need for assistance, companies can now host their own Red Kettle through a private donation link and provided assets to help engage employee donations or publicly sponsor a Red Kettle location. As a Red Kettle sponsor, your company will be supporting the community and be well-recognized for generosity through signs on/at the kettle location of choice.
Last year’s Angel Tree program secured and distributed more than 8,046 toys to 1,061 families with diminished resources and the Red Kettles collected $213,205. The Angel Tree and Red Kettle programs, however, are only part of the nonprofit organization’s holiday efforts to help those less fortunate. On Thanksgiving, it will prepare Thanksgiving meals to go for hundreds of families with diminished resources.
“Distance shouldn’t keep us apart. Together, we can still make holiday wishes come true,” added Major Long.
For more information about corporate donor program, please contact Alyse Gossman at (954) 712-2431 or email alyse.gossman@uss.salvationarmy.org.
