TC Toy Shop provides gifts, hams for 6,000 families
Roseville, Minn. – The Twin Cities Salvation Army is serving nearly 6,000 families in the metro area at its annual Toy Shop this year. And thanks to a special partnership with Hy-Vee, Inc., for the first time, shoppers are also going home with a Hormel® Cure 81® ham for their dinner table.
Toy Shop provides registered families for a chance to shop for free Christmas gifts for their children at one of five Salvation Army events. Thanks to generous donations from partners like the employees at Xcel Energy, the holidays will be brighter for 18,000 kids in the metro area.
“We are very grateful to the people who give so generously to support our Toy Shops,” said Lt. Col. Lonneal Richardson, leader of The Salvation Army Northern Division. “This allows families who are struggling financially to still provide a joyful Christmas for their children.”
In addition to donating nearly 60,000 pounds of ham, Hy-Vee is also donating 25 cents to The Twin Cities Salvation Army for every dozen cookies sold at their stores in the metro area, through Dec. 31.
“We are honored to partner with The Salvation Army to combat hunger this holiday season,” said Mike Long, district vice president of Hy-Vee’s northeast district. “This organization exemplifies our values and shares our spirit of community involvement. Together, we are able to make a larger impact than either one of us could alone – providing joy to thousands of local families.”
Toy Shop will be held in Minneapolis on Dec. 21 and in Saint Paul on Dec. 22.
Toy Shop registration is now closed for 2016. Families who missed the deadline can call the United Way at 211 to search for other options.
About the Twin Cities Salvation Army
Since 1886 the Twin Cities Salvation Army has been a safety net for thousands of people, providing food, housing, financial assistance and more, without discrimination. Each year we serve 187,000 people in the metro area, providing 1,300 hot meals daily and sheltering nearly 900 every night. The Salvation Army relies on 20,500 volunteers who give 160,000 hours of service annually. Please join the Twin Cities Salvation Army by volunteering or making a donation to support your local community.