The 36th annual Salvation Army Fall Festival is under way now at the Salvation Army HQ, 529 E. Main St., Batavia.
Besides a rummage sale and bake sale, at 6 p.m. the Spud Fest begins -- baked potatoes with all the fixin's along with a drink and desserts for $10.
The Genesee Country Stompers line-dance group is holding a fundraiser dance from 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Salvation Army Gym, located at 529 E. Main St., Batavia.
This will be a family affair and a great time to learn square dancing and line dancing. Line dance instruction will be given by Diane Winters.
Admission for dancers is $7 and for spectators $4. No admission is charged for students under age 16. There will also be a Chinese auction, and refreshments will be available.
The group is accepting donations of items for the Chinese auction. For information, contact Kate at 762-8791 or Diane at 356-8806.
The Genesee Country Stompers has been supporting the Disabled American Veterans Transportation Fund and the East Pembroke Grange on a regular basis for several years.
Several members attended a senior dance at The Salvation Army this summer and realized the gym would be a great location for a square dance. So, when they were notified that damage to the wood floor at the East Pembroke Grange would not allow them to hold a dance there this fall, members decided to hold their fundraiser at The Salvation Army and donate proceeds to them.
The 36th annual Harvest Festival put on by The Salvation Army is set for 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7.
It will be held at its community center, located at 529 E. Main St. in the City of Batavia.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will be a mega rummage sale, featuring toys, books linenes, housewares, bric-a-brac, hourly grab bag sales and much more.
From 9 a.m. to noon there will be a blow-out bake sale with famous apple pies, sweets, farm produce and coffee.
Then at 6 p.m. the Spud Fest will begin and baked potatoes will be sold, with a bar of 10 toppings to choose from, along with a drink and dessert for $10.
For more information or to make donations, please call 343-6284.
The Salvation Army will be hosting its fifth annual “Major Steps 5K Walk” on Saturday, April 30.
The monies raised will benefit The Salvation Army’s Emergency Family Services office, which provides food and financial assistance to families in Genesee County.
For individuals who are not able to complete the 5K walk there are two shorter routes. Strollers, wheelchairs, pull-along wagons and pets are welcome.
Again this year we will be offering “Take a Step Back." Recognized nonprofit groups can receive back 20 percent of the total they raise in pledges and/or donations. To be eligible, the group must have at least five walkers participating and each walker must have a minimum of $25 in pledges/donations.
Individuals registering before April 8 will receive an event T-shirt. This includes escorts as well as walkers.
For more information contact: Capt. Patty at 343-6284 or email at patricia.kurtz@use.salvationarmy.org
The Salvation Army has announced that its gymnasium is now available for community programs and rental. The gym is 2,816 square feet of useable space and a reimbursement cost of $20 per hour is requested.
“We have been working on minor repairs and the heating system," said Captain Patty Kurtz. "Everything is completed and the facility can be used year round."
The facility can be used for special events, pick up games, group meetings, etc.
“In February we will be posting our Spring schedule with days and times for leagues, open gym, and pick up games," she said. "We have planned teen and youth nights as well."
For more information contact: Capt. Patty at 343-6284 or e-mail at patricia.kurtz@use.salvationarmy.org
Here's a news release from The Salvation Army.
Christmas 2010 was a record-breaking year for The Salvation Army, says local Captain Patricia Kurtz.
The 2010 Red Kettle Campaign goal was set at $65,000. With the bad weather losing a weekend of fund raising, and a hurting economy it was uncertain if the goal was attainable.
However, thanks to the generosity of the community $69,329 was raised exceeding the projected goal by $4,329.
It was also a record-breaking year for the number of families served for the holiday season.
“This year we assisted 1,324 families with food and toys," Kurtz said. "That is a 58 percent increase over last year.We knew there would be an increase but we did not project such a large percentage.”
These families represent 101 seniors and over 4,000 children receiving more than 9,000 meals and more than 10,000 gifts and toys.
Captain Kurtz expressed her appreciation to the community:
“This type of activity does not happen without a community wide effort. The Salvation Army and each family that received assistance owes a debt of gratitude to all the bell ringers, donors, Angel Tree sponsors, Adopt-A-Family sponsors, and stocking stuffers.”
Special thanks to the 312 bell ringers for providing over 1,200 volunteer hours and the 50 volunteers who served 403 hours in the toy shop.
For more information contact: "Captain Patty" at 343-6284 or email at patricia.kurtz@use.salvationarmy.org
With Christmas only a week away, the Genesee County Salvation Army is facing a critical time crunch to get the food and others items to families who need them. To say they are coming up short on donations this year, in this economy, is an understatement.
Plus, there's a dearth of bell-ringers, so that's taken a bite out of the Salvation Army's holiday charity campaign.
There are 750 local families who've applied for assistance, and plenty more on a waiting list.
"It's the working families who are really getting squeezed," said Capt. Patty Kurtz, "'the working poor' as the government calls them, are the majority of those who applied this year."
She said the charity used the bulk of its $15,000 Genesee County food budget to buy grocery store gift certificates this year. It also allows families to buy a turkey, ham or whatever for Christmas dinner, and stretches their food budget at a time when their kids are on winter break for two weeks.
The Salvation Army has stocked food items too, of course, with help from Batavia-based business Holiday Ice, which it will start giving out, along with the gift cards, to those on the list beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday, and again on Tuesday. That'll be at headquarters, 529 E. Main St., in the City of Batavia.
Between now and then, food donations would be super appreciated. Can anybody spare a frozen turkey -- like today or tommorrow?
There were 150 of the birds donated and given out at Thanksgiving. For Christmas, they have about 200 on hand, far below what 750-plus families could enjoy.
"It would be ideal if we could (at least) give every family a turkey," said Kurtz, who is called "Captain Patty."
P.S. -- The Salvation Army's winterwear drive lasts all season long. So if you have gently used coats, sweaters, scarves, mittens, gloves, hats, etc. there are people in Genesee County who could sure use them.
To contact the Salvation Army in Batavia, call 343-6284. E-mail Capt. Patty at patricia.kurtz@use.salvationarmy.org.
Today at Ken Barrett's car dealership, the Salvation Army held its annual Christmas Toy Drive with the help of WBTA and the City Fire Department.
The Batavia Salvation Army kicked off its annual Red Kettle Campaign today at Seymour Place, East Main Street. WBTA's Geoff Redick made the honorary first donation.
The Women's Auxiliary of the Batavia Salvation Army will host a Swiss Steak Dinner & Basket Auction on Saturday, Nov. 13.
It will be held at 529 E. Main St. in Batavia to benefit the Thanksgiving and Christmas programs. Take-outs start at 4:30 p.m.; dinner is at 5.
Tickets are $8 and will only be available until Oct. 29. Contact 343-6284 or 345-1663 for more information.
The youth puppet team from Genessee Country church joined up with Care-A-Van Thursday evening for their weekly cookout. The youth presented an awesome puppet show for all the kids and their parents. 35 people from the neighborhood came to the cookout. Captain Bob Krutz and wife Pat from the Salvation Army were on hand. Captain Bob will be giving the message for street church at South Spruce this Sunday. The service starts at 2:30 PM.
Thank you to the youth from Geneesee Country church and all the people that come out to volunteer to bring joy, peace and happiness to others!
The youth with their advisor Rachel
Now he looks like he is enjoying his hotdog!
Kim Gloskowski volunteer from Emmanuel Baptist Church helps little Lilly celebrate her birthday with an ice cream cone!
Last Saturday, the Salvation Army here in Batavia held a food giveway. Pictured above is Captain Bob of Salvation Army taking a quick break with Paul Ohlson of Care-A-Van Ministries. There was approximately over 450 families with over 1,500 family members that benefited from the food that was donated by Food Link. Food was also distributed to other local agencies and organizations to have on hand to help people.
These young gentlemen came out to volunteer for the day. Cornell Cooperative Extension was on hand to offer their services as well as the Fidelis Insurance company who helped people without insurance fill out applicatons to see if they could be eligible for benefits.
It was a great day to see all the different agencies coming together to help others.
Captain Bob and his wife Patty are doing an awesome job of serving at the local office.
Batavia's own rock 'n roll band Down to Earth Approach will reunite for one night only to play all the songs on their first CD, "Another Intervention."
Saturday, December 26, 2009
7:00-10:00 PM
the former Main Street Coffee
111 Main Street, Batavia
$15 at the door (no advance sales)
A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS GOES TO THE BATAVIA SALVATION ARMY!
The Salvation Army has sent out an S.O.S. in an effort to shore up a big gap in giving this holiday season. Here's the press release:
The Salvation Army of Batavia is $6,000 behind in its Red Kettle Campaign, compared to this time last year, and is barely half-way to its $65,000 goal, reported Captain Robert Kurtz, director.
Describing the situation as urgent, he attributed the shortfall to the tough economy, not enough outdoor bellringers, the weather, and, with the prevalence of debit/credit cards, fewer people carrying cash.
“We need more bellringers, especially in the evening,” the captain said. “Even though we are quite a bit behind, we trust in the community to help us serve those in need. We have committed to provide food and toys for 760 needy families this Christmas.”
The community can help in three ways, he noted.
He added: “We thank everyone who has volunteered or made a donation, and we are grateful to our community and neighbors who remember those less fortunate.”
JCPenney Co. and The Salvation Army have joined forces this Christmas season to give joy to people in need through a grand-scale online Angel Giving Tree program.
Up until Dec. 14, customers can adopt needy children and seniors and shop online for Christmas gifts for them at www.jcp.com/angel.
The new online Angel Giving Tree program builds on the legacy of The Salvation Army's Angel Tree program, where people would pick the name of someone in need and buy a gift for him or her.
The online Angel Giving Tree program allows customers to adopt an Angel at jcp.com/angel and conveniently shop for them online at jcp.com, in JCPenney stores or at any location they choose. In a few easy steps, customers can visit the site to request an Angel by location, age range and gender. An Angel who matches the criteria will be e-mailed to the customer along with a list of needed items. The confirmation e-mail will
also include a link to view drop-off locations in the customer's area and ship-to addresses for online orders.
In collaboration with FedEx Ground, Angel Giving Tree gifts purchased through jcp.com can be shipped free of charge to any one of the 1,200 Salvation Army collection centers nationwide -- putting the entire selection, shopping and delivery process at the customer's fingertips.
"We appreciate this opportunity to inspire the American public to make a better Christmas for the millions of children and seniors living in poverty," said Major George Hood, national community relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army. One small gift can bring joy to a Salvation Army Angel this Christmas."
"In a year when so many need help, the new online Angel Giving Tree program will extend our reach and make it easier for our customers and associates to give back this holiday season," said Mike Boylson, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for JCPenney. "By leveraging the strength of jcp.com, we are helping to modernize an American tradition -- the Angel Tree program -- and create an innovative way to help families in need in our communities across the nation. Launching this program with The Salvation Army allows us to elevate our support for a cause that is extremely important to our customers and associates, underscoring our focus on the 'Joy of Giving' this holiday season."
The Salvation Army will host a Harvest Festival on Friday, Oct. 2 at its gymnasium, located at 529 E. Main St. in Batavia.
There will be a huge rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with used clothing, toys, books, linens, electric goods, furniture, houseware and more.
There will be lots of food available for sale, including breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs, cold plates, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, sweet potato fries, French fries, sausage sandwiches, salads, soft drinks and popcorn.
Since I complained about it, I should note the clean up: When I was driving to the office this morning, I noticed this man out in front of the Salvation Army Thrift Store on Jackson cutting the grass strips in front of the parking lot. When I drove home, the whole area looked much nicer.
Road crews all over Genesee County have been vigilant and most roads and city streets are now all clear of the ice and snow that covered them yesterday, according to WBTA's Dan Fischer. Nevertheless, some patches of packed snow can be found in spots, so caution is still advised while driving. As for tonight—how about rain? Temperatures will be pushing 40 degrees as we head into Christmas Eve. That means some of the ubiquitous snow will shrink down as it melts.
Fischer reports that the storms have caused some collateral damage, costing the Salvation Army some $5,000 in donations to the Red Kettle Campaign, presumably because folks couldn't get out and give.
Two new paid employees and a volunteer have joined the staff at the Salvation Army in Batavia for the holiday season, according to the Daily News. Joan Stevens, Suzanne Wheeler and Mike Morasco bring diverse experience to the crew. Check out the article by Virginia Kropf for more on the new hires.
In other news, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America will host free memory screenings from 9:00am to 1:00pm on Tuesday at Kmart, 8363 Lewiston Road, in Batavia.
We encourage you to pick up a copy of the Daily News at your local newsstand. Or, better yet, subscribe at BataviaNews.com.
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