Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Salvation Army's Needy Get New Shoes


 Adell Sims, Suemae Rodriguez, Roosevelt Carroll Jr., Sarai Napp and Devison Cleveland all love to play basketball and are the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps basketball team. Before participating in a tournament in Portland, Ore. two of them received new shoes, which the Salvation Army bought for them with Foot Locker gift cards that  had been donated by Stater Brothers Charities. Those were the first two of 30 cards, valued at $50 each, the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps put to good use. It will give the rest to families in need of new shoes who are staying at the Hospitality House emergency family shelter. Stater Brothers Charities also donated 30 Foot Locker cards to the Salvation Army Cathedral City Corps to help families in the Coachella Valley.


(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Thirty of San Bernardino’s most needy families will have an opportunity to receive new shoes, courtesy of a donation of Foot Locker gift cards from Stater Brothers Charities.

The San Bernardino-based grocery store chain’s charitable foundation donated 30 Foot Locker gift cards worth $50 each to the San Bernardino Corps of the Salvation Army. It made the same donation to the Cathedral City Corps to help needy families in the Coachella Valley.

The San Bernardino Corps immediately put two of its gift cards to good use.

“Two members of our Salvation Army basketball team needed shoes to compete in a tournament April 30 through May 2 in Portland, Ore.,” said Capt. Nancy Ball, co-director of the San Bernardino Corps. “They were able to purchase these shoes with these gift cards.”

Capt. Ball said Roosevelt Carroll, director of the Hospitality House emergency family shelter, received the other 28 cards and will hand them out to families staying there as needed. She expects Carroll will find families who need the cards fairly quickly.

“Many people come to the Hospitality House wearing nothing more on their feet than a pair of flip-flops,” she said. “Those are the only shoes they have. We will be glad to help them obtain more suitable shoes.”

Sarah Cain, executive director of Stater Brothers Charities, said the grocery store chain and the non-profit organization it founded to help the community are committed to helping all people in the Inland Empire with their basic needs.

“Stater Bros. Charities is committed to caring for the communities we serve even in the most basic ways, like providing shoes to those in need,” she said.

About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.


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