Letter to the Editor

If you’re into gardening this can be the most exciting time of the year, plotting out your garden, searching for seed and flowers and just the right pot for your porch.

As you’re sowing your garden, why not think about planting an extra row or two for the people in your community who are short on cash and need to visit the food pantries.

Local food pantries in the area welcome fresh vegetables and fruits and the people who receive the produce appreciate it even more.

Let’s kick off the gardening season this year by planting extra for your fellow community members who need a helping hand.

THE SALVATION ARMY CALLS ON FACEBOOK FRIENDS FOR VOTES: Vote The Salvation Army

Target Selects The Salvation Army As One of Ten Charities to Receive a Portion of $3 Million.

Alexandria, VA (May 11, 2009) – As part of the first day of National Salvation Army Week, The Salvation Army announced its participation in Bullseye Gives (www.Facebook.com/Target), the first-ever Target Facebook giving campaign. From May 10 through May 25, The Salvation Army’s Facebook friends, fans, constituents, donors and supporters can vote for the organization to win a portion of a $3 million charitable donation. The more votes, the larger the donation.

“The Salvation Army is excited and grateful to be part of Target’s groundbreaking fundraising idea through Facebook,” said Major George Hood, national community relations secretary for The Salvation Army. “It gives us another great way to engage our donors, friends and partners in a meaningful way during National Salvation Army Week 2009 for the betterment of those we serve.”

Much of The Salvation Army and Target’s nearly four-year partnership focuses on education for those in need, particularly at-risk youth. In November of 2008, Target donated $1 million to The Salvation Army to build or revamp a library, media center or other educational Salvation Army facility in one of each of the forty geographic Army Divisions in the United States. This gift could not have come at a better time. The centers are currently under construction and are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. Many of the centers will provide updated educational outlets and after-school care for kids in the community as well as job training, resume assistance and other much-needed educational resources for adults impacted by the current economic circumstances. Depending on the amount allotted to the Army, the funds raised through Bullseye Gives will go to either further enhance current library projects from the initial grant or to build additional centers in new locations across the United States.

Based on the percentage of votes received by each charity, that percentage will determine a charities’ portion of the $3 million donation. All votes and dollars allocated will be updated in real time on the Target Facebook page throughout the course of the contest. Site visitors can vote once per day, every day, throughout the entirety of the contest. The final donation allocations per charity will be announced on May 26.

“At Target, our reputation is built on our legacy of service, and Bullseye Gives is an incredible opportunity for us to continue to engage the public in our giving,” said Laysha Ward, president of community relations, Target. “This is a unique way to help raise awareness of the important work these deserving charities do and increase local volunteerism nationwide.”

The selected charities fall within the Target’s core areas of giving, as well as causes that are of specific interest to its guests. The other nine charities participating include the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Feeding America, HandsOn Network/Points of Light Institute, Kids In Need, Parent Teacher Association, National Park Foundation, Operation Gratitude, Red Cross, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 128 years in the United States. Nearly 29 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 83 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.

About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,699 stores in 49 states nationwide and at Target.com. Target is committed to providing a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to unique and highly differentiated products at affordable prices. Since 1946, the corporation has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs like Take Charge of Education. Today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week.

ANNOUNCEMENT: More Money to the Needy in Wisconsin

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) has provided an additional $100 million to the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP). This funding is above and beyond the funds already awarded under Phase 27 (FY 2009) and is intended to address the great increases in unemployment and community needs that we are seeing in our communities.

The Wisconsin EFSP State Set-Aside (SSA) Committee will receive $848,991 of that $100 million to supplement and extend emergency food and shelter programs. The county will receive $34,180. The local FEMA Board will receive this one-time ARRA award. The money given will be based on the county’s unemployment and poverty rates.

On May 28th , 10 a.m. at the Park Plaza Community Room, 909 Ontario, Sheboygan, the local FEMA Board will meet to discuss the disbursement to Sheboygan County social service agencies. The meeting is open to the public. Not for profit agencies interested in providing assistance to people in need are encouraged to attend the FEMA meeting.

I WALK FOR HUNGER – JUNE 20th

Sheboygan, Wis., - The Salvation Army of Sheboygan is holding its first annual I Walk for Hunger event June 20th.

This 3 mile walk goes in and through Sheboygan Falls including an alternate route through the scenic Falls River Trail. The Volkswagon Club will be parked along Main Street to pass out water and assist in the crossings. The newly opened Satellite Coffee Shop along with Lakeside Pepsi, Rick’s Flower Shop, Southside Alliance Church, the Pentecostals of Sheboygan County, and Bella’s Custom Design have all come together to help sponsor this big event.

The walk begins and ends at St. Paul Lutheran Church of 730 Cty Rd PPP in Sheboygan Falls and the cost is $10 an individual to walk or $30 for a family of four. Participants will receive an I Walk for Hunger t-shirt and an incentive gift for collecting sponsors of $100 or more.

“This is an opportunity for the Sheboygan community to come together to show they care. Walk as a family, with friends, or represent your church, organization, or company,” said Development Director Heidi Cain.

Directly after the I Walk for Hunger event at 11 a.m. is the Good Stock Festival which will be on the grounds of St. Paul Lutheran. Admission is $5 a person. With 12 Christian rock bands, different vendors from all over the county, the festival is predicted to be the biggest county event of this type to date. The festival will go as late as 10 p.m.

To sign-up or be one of the sponsors for the I Walk for Hunger event, go to http://iwalkforhunger.googlepages.com/iwalkforhunger

Contributions to The Salvation Army’s I Walk for Hunger can be made on-line at www.sasheboygan.org, or mailed to The Salvation Army, PO Box 1207, Sheboygan, Wisconsin 53082-1207.