Toronto, May 15, 2008 – Halfway through the month, The Salvation Army’s May Red Shield Campaign, a fundraising appeal to raise money for programs and services available to the nearly 5 million Canadians living in poverty, is still in need of support.
“The month of May is critical as The Salvation Army continues to raise funds to sustain our programs that serve many living below or at the poverty line,” says Graham D. Moore, Territorial Secretary for Public Relations and Development. “We trust that Canadians will continue to be generous as we seek to help the vulnerable and marginalized.”
With a goal of $3 million, money raised during the Red Shield Campaign will go directly to support a vast array of social programs available to Canadian families that includes food banks, practical assistance, shelter, addictions services and street youth outreach.
In addition to this fundraising effort, Salvation Army officers, staff and volunteers will work to raise overall awareness regarding the problem of poverty in Canada. The child poverty rate remains at 11.7%; exactly the same as it was in 1989 and the average low income family survives on an annual income that is $9,000 to 11,000 below Statistics Canada’s before tax low income cut-off. A national Salvation Army advertising campaign will also highlight the problem of poverty in Canada this May, under the tagline “Poverty shouldn’t be a life sentence.”
As the leading non-governmental direct provider of social services in Canada, each year, The Salvation Army:
Provides direct, compassionate, hands-on service to over 1.5 million people
Provides 6,370 shelter beds for the homeless each night, 1/3 of all the shelter beds in Canada
Provides practical assistance to over 900,000 family members
Serves 2.3 million meals to the hungry
The Salvation Army’s Red Shield fundraising Campaign is an annual fundraising event that is in its 89th year. It utilizes online, phone, direct mail and door-to-door appeals to solicit donations from generous Canadians. Giving to The Salvation Army offers an opportunity to invest in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community. Please visit www.SalvationArmy.ca or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY for more information and to donate.
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About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 115 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, provide shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction.
News releases, articles and updated information can be found at www.SalvationArmy.ca.