FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 7, 2020
The Salvation Army Media Contact:
Captain Miguel Garces
miguel.garces @use.salvationamry.org
P: 413.532.6310 / C: 413.219.9097
Holyoke Mall Media Contact:
Lisa Wray
413-536-1441
The Salvation Army Kettle Campaign Underway at Holyoke Mall
–Red Kettle Campaign to Support Vital Programming and Services for children, seniors and families–
Holyoke, MA: Holyoke Mall is pleased to welcome The Salvation Army back to the shopping center for another holiday season with both their Red Kettle Campaign and their Angel Giving Tree. Volunteer bell ringers can be seen at various entrances to the shopping center collecting much needed donations through December 24th. In addition, their Angel Giving Tree is set up on the upper level near AT&T. Guests can pull a tag from the tree and purchase the gift requested by a child. Toys, clothes and other gifts purchased can then be delivered along with the tag to The Salvation Army’s Holyoke Corps Community Center located at 271 Appleton Street.
The money raised during the Red Kettle Campaign is a critical source of funding for vital programs and services for tens of thousands of families, youth and senior citizens in Holyoke, Chicopee South Hadley and Granby and across Massachusetts each year. This includes Christmas toys and other holiday support for those in need, along with funding for food pantries, soup kitchens, social services, and education programs throughout the year.
“Giving back to the communities we serve, particularly in times of greater need, is incredibly important to Pyramid Management Group and the guests who graciously choose to donate every holiday season at our properties,” said Stephen J. Congel, chief executive officer, Pyramid Management Group. “We are honored to continue this important tradition and partnership with the Salvation Army and provide our guests with an opportunity to give back in a manner that’s safe for everyone. The partnership is especially meaningful to our guests since the funds raised at each one of our centers remains in the communities they were donated.”
In 2019, the Red Kettle campaign at Holyoke Mall raised over $23,000. Needed funds that are typically raised through the organization’s iconic red kettles are at risk this year due to COVID-19 while requests for services are at an all-time high. The Salvation Army projects that donations to the Red Kettle will be down by more than 50% while requests for assistance could increase by 155% if resources are available. To make the donation process safer this holiday season, all red kettles are equipped with NFC technology accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay. The Salvation Army has adopted nationally mandated safety protocols and implemented training around cleaning and sanitizing the red kettles. Donors can also set up their own virtual kettle at salvationarmyma.org/rescuechristmas if they prefer to donate online. Digital donations through Apple Pay and Google Pay are also strongly encouraged to cut down on points of contact.
The Red Kettle tradition began in 1891 when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee wanted to help feed needy citizens in San Francisco. McFee remembered the ferry landings in Liverpool England, where people would sit with small kettles that travelers would toss spare change into to help the less fortunate. Placing his own kettle on Market Street in Oakland California, McFee was able to help individuals on Christmas. The idea traveled to Boston in 1897 and the Red Kettle Campaign has been a tradition ever since.
For more information, please visit: www.salvationarmyma.org/Holyoke
B Roll Provided by The Salvation Army : https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tsmxndbsmz9bljf/AAD-rdgYAf2mODXHam-GjqWha/B-Roll/1.%20Rescue%20Christmas%20B-Roll/The%20Salvation%20Army%20%7C%20Rescue%20Christmas%20%7C%20B-ROLL%20%7C%202.30s.mp4?dl=0
Photos Provided by The Salvation Army: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tsmxndbsmz9bljf/AADBbGbe1J68SKv-nT3I4xJVa/Photos/1.%20Rescue%20Christmas%20Photos?dl=0&file_subpath=%2FRescue+Christmas+PPE+Kettle+Photos&preview=Rescue+Christmas+PPE+Kettle+Photos.zip&subfolder_nav_tracking=1
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About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army annually helps more than 23 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit SalvationArmyMA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyMA and #DoingTheMostGood.
About Holyoke Mall at Ingleside
Holyoke Mall at Ingleside is Western’s New England’s premiere shopping center located in Holyoke’s Ingleside neighborhood and conveniently located near the interchange of I-90 and I-91. Holyoke Mall was built in 1979 and later expanded in 1995- now spanning 1.6 million square feet. The three-level Mall is home to 150 shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, and department stores including: Macy’s, Christmas Tree Shops, Target, Victoria’s Secret, Apple, Round1, DSW, Forever 21, Loft, Banana Republic, H&M, Sumo Japanese Steakhouse, 110 Grill, and more. For more information, visit www.holyokemall.com.
About Pyramid Management Group, LLC
Pyramid Management Group, owner of Holyoke Mall, is one of the largest, most innovative, privately-held real estate developers in the northeast. Headquartered in Syracuse, New York, Pyramid’s portfolio of dynamic shopping, dining and entertainment destinations and expanding hospitality presence dominate the northeast with 14 properties located throughout New York and Massachusetts. For nearly 50 years, Pyramid has built its reputation on being first, fast, ahead of the curve and always what’s next, leading the industry in combining the best elements of traditional retail with world-class dining and entertainment, all under one roof. For more information, visit www.pyramidmg.com.