Ferris State Women's Volleyball To Help The Salvation Army

The 2010 Ferris State University women's volleyball team student-athletes helped raised a total of $681.15 in assisting The Salvation Army the week of Nov. 29-Dec. 2  in the organization's 2010 Red Kettle Christmas Campaign at the Big Rapids (Mich.) Walmart.

"We're excited about helping out a really good cause," said Ferris State head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm.  "

The Red Kettle Campaign, the oldest annual charitable fundraiser of its kind in the United States, helps raise money for those who need it most in communities nationwide – providing toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and countless social service programs year-round. From its humble beginnings as a program started by a Salvation Army captain in San Francisco in 1891, the Red Kettle Campaign has grown into one of the most recognizable and important charitable campaigns in the United States. As part of the campaign, more than 25,000 Salvation Army volunteers spread throughout the country to ring bells and solicit donations to the iconic red kettles from holiday shoppers. In 2009, the campaign raised more than $139 million nationwide, a new record supported by the public's nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars (and the occasional diamond ring or gold tooth) all collected and used to help people in the communities where the money was raised.

Walmart will be hosting Salvation Army red kettles and bell-ringers at stores nationwide. In addition to hosting kettles at Walmart and Sam's Club locations between November 26th and December 24th, Walmart will also make a generous $1 million donation to the Red Kettle Campaign for use in Salvation Army feeding programs.

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.