At The Salvation Army Sutton, Ontario, Youth Shelter, male and female clients receive a hand up rather than a hand out.
The shelter’s emergency and transition housing for homeless youth has served more than 800 people, ages 16 to 26, since its doors opened in March 2006. Read the full story

Teens are becoming more moral but less religious, according to a new study released by one of Canada’s most respected sociologists. The Emerging Millennials: How Canada’s Newest Generation is Responding to Change and Choice is the title of the latest book by Reginald Bibby, a sociologist with the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. It is based on a survey of 4,746 high-school students, ages 15 to 19, that he conducted in 2008 in approximately 200 schools across the country.
For more information visit http://ptc08.com/english.html

Do you feel teens are more moral and less religious? Why?

Over the month of December, Best Buy Canada ran a “vote for your favourite charity” contest on BestBuy.ca. $25,000 was distributed amongst select charities across Canada through the Best Buy for Kids program. The Salvation Army ended up in first place for English voting and third in French voting. Resulting in Best Buy graciously donating $13,000 to The Salvation Army

Sarah Petz of Best Buy said “With over 40,000 votes received on BestBuy.ca from across Canada, it is evident that the community wants to make a difference in the lives of children by directing donations to amazing organizations like The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army received the most votes throughout English Canada and came in third in Quebec, for a total donation of $13,000 from Best Buy. Congratulations and Merry Christmas.”

The Salvation Army wants to thank Best Buy Canada for their support of the charitable sector, for allowing Canadians to participate in the decision making process, and for their $13,000 donation to The Salvation Army!

Special thanks to all the Canadians who voted!

Aeropostale, a New York-based clothing company that produces a popular teen line, donated 1,000 new coats worth an estimated $69,000 to The Salvation Army in Midland, Ont.

“This donation is a tremendous boost to our efforts to help the less fortunate in our area,” says Peter Thomas, director of community and family services for The Salvation Army.
Thomas noted many families cannot afford to purchase winter coats, especially if there are several teenagers in the family.

Extra coats will be sent to Salvation Army locations in Barrie, Orillia, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Parry Sound and Collingwood.

Aeropostale has donated 100,000 jackets to coat drives across the continent. The project is part of the company’s yearlong initiative to improve the lives of the growing number of homeless teens throughout the U.S. and Canada

From Monday, December 7, to Friday December 18, employees will drop unwrapped toys and/or non-perishable food items in barrels in the lobby of the national headquarters in Toronto.

“We want to do our part in giving hope this Christmas to those in our community who suffer from the heartache of poverty,” says Andrew Burditt, territorial public relations director.

Across the country Canadians continue to give generously to those who have met with hard times. How are you making a difference in your community?

When I was six years old, my family fell on hard times just before Christmas. My dad had been laid off and my mother, the only working parent left in a household with three young children, had to undergo surgery as doctors searched for possible cancer. Read the full story

Sadly, 800,000 Canadian children will spend Christmas 2009 in poverty. With this in mind, The Salvation Army is motivated to make Christmas as bright as possible for as many children as possible. Read the full story

A former single mother of two boys, who benefited from The Salvation Army’s Christmas Hamper program, asked guests at her recent wedding to bring toys for needy children instead of gifts.

The result was a truckload of 150 toys that was delivered to The Salvation Army Family Services office in Strathroy, Ontario.

The bride, Fiona Zwering, said friends and family supported the idea and went beyond what was asked of them.

“This was our opportunity to give back,” says Fiona. “And it was amazing to see what people gave.”

The rise in food prices in 2007/08, followed by the financial and economic crisis in 2009, has heightened awareness on poverty and hunger issues around the world. Read the full story

TORONTO, Oct. 13 /CNW/ - LeapFrog, the makers of innovative, technology-based educational products leapt into action this week after learning of the recent ‘Toys for Tots’ theft in Peel Region.

Upon hearing the news that hundreds of toys meant for children in need this Christmas were stolen from a tractor-trailer in the Rexdale Boulevard, Martin Grove area, LeapFrog has stepped up to the plate, donating $5,000 worth of their toys to the program.

“This is a very important initiative that has been met with misfortune,” says Glen Atkinson, Director of Marketing at Leapfrog Canada. “We want to help the Salvation Army and Peel Region Police recover some of the ground lost in this year’s Toys for Tots program - and bring a smile to some very deserving faces on Christmas morning.”

This is the second year in a row the Salvation Army has encountered loss with their toys drives. Last year saw $4 million worth of toys and other donations go up in smoke, after a fire destroyed their warehouse facility.

About LeapFrog:

LeapFrog is a leading designer, developer and marketer of innovative, technology-based educational products that make learning fun and engaging. With over 35 million educational platforms and almost 90 million interactive books and games in homes worldwide, theLeapFrog learning brand is trusted by parents, valued by teachers and loved by children around the world.

For further information: Erin Stewart, Harbinger, (416) 960-5100 x.265, estewart@harbingerideas.com