Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Salvation Army has holiday wish: Midtown space

A large building is needed for sorting and wrapping for two months.

By RITA FARLOW
Published July 11, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Each fall, residents give tons of food and thousands of toys to the St. Petersburg Salvation Army to make the holidays a little brighter for the underprivileged.

This year, officials are hoping someone out there will donate space for volunteers to sort and package the donations.

Community relations coordinator Janet McGuire said they are looking for an individual or business to donate an empty warehouse or retail space of about 20,000 square feet for November and December. Preferably, the site would have parking for up to 100 vehicles and a loading dock, McGuire said.

In return, the Salvation Army will promote the donor's generosity in its publicity materials. Leaders also promise to clean the building before and after they use it, obtain any necessary permits and pay all utilities while they're there.

Officials would like a structure in Midtown.

"We want to keep it as close to the public where the need is the most," McGuire said.

In years past, food and gifts were sorted at the gymnasium at the Salvation Army Corps location at 3800 Ninth Ave. N. But the massive undertaking of serving meals to more than 5,500 people last holiday season and giving out toys to more than 1,500 children has encroached on much-needed space, McGuire said.

"We have so many people coming in to pick up items and so many pre-event activities going on that with packaging and sorting, it gets to the point we can't really do our normal activities in there," McGuire said.

To publicize donation drives and registration for holiday assistance, the organization needs to secure a site by Aug. 1, McGuire said.

"It seems like a long way off, but Christmas for us starts early."

To help

To donate space

Call the Salvation Army St. Petersburg Area Command at 550-8080.

[Last modified July 10, 2007, 20:44:12]