Friday, February 12, 2010

5,000 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FEB 20-21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2010

Contact: Major Kenneth Nicolai
847.494.4692


5,000 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP PACKAGE
ONE MILLION MEALS FOR HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS

(ELGIN, IL — Feb. 11, 2010) -- The Salvation Army is seeking volunteers to help package one million meals for survivors of the January 12 earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Army is partnering with the City of Elgin and Elgin-area businesses to package meal ingredients, which include rice, soy protein, freeze-dried vegetables, and 21 vitamins and minerals, for shipment to Haiti.

Approximately 5,000 volunteers are needed for the two-day food packaging event, to be held Saturday and Sunday, February 20 and 21, at the former Seigle’s Home and Building Center, 1600 Big Timber Road in Elgin. Saturday hours are 9 AM to 6 PM; Sunday hours are 1 PM to 6 PM.

Residents who can donate two hours of their time on either day should visit www.salarmyelgin.org to register. Registration is required, since it may not be possible to accommodate volunteers who show up the day of the event. We also request help for meeting local needs. Please bring canned food to donate to the food pantry that is supporting 160-200 families every Friday in Elgin. A canned food drop box will be present at this event.

The Salvation Army has had a presence in Haiti since 1950, with more than 700 Army officers and staff operating schools, clinics, a hospital, children’s homes and feeding programs.
The United Nations has designated The Salvation Army as the “lead agency” responsible for the care of 20,000 earthquake survivors living in makeshift tents or out in the open near the Army’s main compound in Port-au-Prince. The Army is providing food, water and medical services to this group.