Hundreds attend Youth Appreciation Day at Eastside Salvation Army in St. Paul
The Eastside Salvation Army in St. Paul held its third annual Youth Appreciation Day on Aug. 16, when hundreds of community members received free backpacks, school supplies, food, clothing, haircuts, and access to community resources. (View photos.)
“We have businesses and friends up and down Payne Ave. and the Eastside neighborhood who jumped on board with this event – and once that happened, everything exploded,” said Captain Scott Spicer, Eastside Salvation Army administrator.
One of those friends is David “Red” Frazier, owner of Just Imagine clothing store and a 2024 Salvation Army Volunteer of the Year. He helped gather hundreds of clothing donations from the community to distribute to families at the event.
“I wanted to provide for these kids so they could have a fresh start to the school year,” Frazier said. “If you look good and feel good, you’re going to excel in school.”
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter stopped by the event and was thrilled by what he saw, praising the work of those who volunteered their time and resources to make it all happen.
“This is what community is – it's people taking care of one another,” said Carter, who is pictured with a volunteer and Lt. Col. E. Randall Polsley, leader of The Salvation Army Northern Division. “The fact that you’re providing meals and haircuts and clothes is powerful in and of itself. But the fact that volunteers are coming in and doing it on their free time puts it over the top."
The event helped people like Joe, a St. Paul resident who heard about the event on Facebook. He and his wife have eight kids, ages 4 to 17.
“This helps greatly with clothes and school supplies,” said Joe, a regular volunteer for local nonprofit Festival for Fathers and Families. “I’m grateful for the community support.”
With inflation and unemployment continuing to rise, Salvation Army service centers across the Twin Cities are providing nearly 4,500 backpacks with school supplies to relieve families of the stress and worry of dealing with one more expense at back-to-school time. You can help by donating online or dropping off new school supplies at your local Salvation Army.
“We are grateful to our donors, volunteers and community partners for coming together to organize this incredible event to benefit local families,” said Captain Lisa Spicer, Eastside Salvation Army administrator.
Sponsors of the 2024 Youth Appreciation Day included:
- Art@967 Payne
- BakeShow DJ
- BCR Hair Studio
- Black Business Network
- Blessed to be Blessed
- Bridge for Youth
- Brix Real Estate
- Brunson’s Pub
- Circle of Apparel
- Comcast
- Dreams Diamonds
- East Side Elders
- East Side Neighborhood Development Company
- Face to Face
- Gentleman Cuts Barbershop
- Isaac’s Blessing Bags
- Just Imagine
- Minnesota Community Care
- Moler Barber School
- Onyx Sets by Faith
- Right Track
- Saint Paul Brewing
- Tongue in Cheek
- Troo Kidz
- Twin Cities Relief Initiative