News/Talk 760 WJR Presents 24th Annual Salvation Army Bed & Bread Club Radiothon
New station, new hosts backsame great cause Feb. 25 at Oakland Mall
SOUTHFIELD,Mich., — The SalvationArmy of Metro Detroit is bringing a few new faces to its annual radiothon teamthis year, partnering with News/Talk 760 WJR for the 24th AnnualSalvation Army Bed & Bread Club Radiothon.
Hosts forthis year's charity event will include Paul W. Smith, Frank Beckmann, MitchAlbom and others from WJR, and will air live from Oakland Mall in Troy on Friday,Feb. 25 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Eachyear, 100 percent of every dollar raised during the radiothon goes directly tothe Bed & Bread program. In a time of persistent need, the program is vitalto those less fortunate in metro Detroit.
"Although Michigan's unemploymentrate is still in the double digits, hunger and homelessness is widespread inour community and the number of individuals we are serving is up 19 percent, itis important toremember that these issues aren't impossible to fix," said Major John Turner, generalsecretary for The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit. "A donation as small as $10 amonth can help feed someone for a year."
"It will not only help feed thehungry and shelter the homeless, but offer them hope for a better tomorrow," headded.
Asingle donation of $120 a year (or 12 monthly payments of $10) earns youmembership in the Bed & Bread Club and helps feedone person for a year. A $240 donation helps feed two people for an entire year.
Donationscan be made now through the radiothon on Feb. 25 by visiting www.wjr.com, www.salmich.org,by calling 248-528-0760 or by check to The Salvation Army Bed & Bread Clubat 16130 Northland Drive, Southfield, MI 48075.
New this year, The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit is nowaccepting text donations to the Bed & Bread Club Radiothon. It's as simpleas texting BREAD to 80888 tomake a one-time donation of $10, which will be billed to your mobile phonebill. Messaging and data rates may apply. Text Donations are collected for TheSalvation Army Bed & Bread Club by mobilecause.com. Reply STOP to 85944 tostop your donation. Reply HELP to 85944 for help with your donation. For terms, see www.igfn.org/t.
TheBed & Bread program brings food, shelter and services to destitute people inmetro Detroit's most depressed areas 365 days of the year. Through TheSalvation Army facilities and their Bed & Bread trucks, nearly 5,000 mealsare served each day to children, adults and seniors. In addition, the Bed &Bread program, on average, shelters nearly 600 men, women and children eachnight. This service provides the homeless in our community with basicnecessities and assists them in getting back on their feet.
"We'revery excited to take part in a tradition that has been going on for nearly aquarter century," said Steve Stewart, WJR Operations Manager. "It's not justabout raising money; it's about heightening awareness and giving hope to thosewho often don't have food and shelter."
Sinceits launch in 1988, the radiothon has raised more than $23 million in an effortto provide food and shelter to those who otherwise would go without. In 2009alone, The Salvation Army fed more than 1.8 million people with donations tothe Bed & Bread Club.
The 24th Annual Salvation Army Bed & Bread Club Radiothon will take place at centerstage at Oakland Mall in Troy, located on the northwest corner of 14 Mile Roadand John R, just off I-75.
Founded by William Booth in London, England in1865, The Salvation Army is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated toserving people in need without discrimination. For more information aboutThe Salvation Army, please call 877-SAL-MICH, or visit us at www.salmich.org.