The
Salvation
Army of
Metro
Detroit
launches
'Summer
in the
City'
fundraising
campaign
$250,000
goal
will
provide
food,
utility
and
other
assistance
to metro
Detroit
residents
affected
by
COVID-19
pandemic
SOUTHFIELD,
MI - The
Salvation
Army of
Metro
Detroit
is
kicking
off its
Summer
in the
City
fundraising
campaign
presented
by
Toyota.
From
July 13
through
Aug. 7,
the
nonprofit
will
look to
the
community
to help
raise
$250,000
for
metro
Detroit
residents
who are
struggling
financially
due to
the
COVID-19
pandemic.
The
Summer
in the
City
Campaign
will
provide
food
assistance
and
utility
bill
payments,
as well
as
adequate
access
to
medications,
prescriptions
and
transportation
assistance.
Led
by a
$77,777
matching
donation
from
Toyota,
the
four-week
fundraiser
will be
chaired
by Alva
Adams
Mason,
director,
multicultural
business
alliance
&
strategy
for
Toyota
Motor
North
America
and
Salvation
Army
National
Advisory
Board
member.
Donations
of any
amount
made to
the
Summer
in the
City
Campaign
are
welcomed,
and
because
all
gifts up
to
$77,777
will be
doubled
and
fully
matched,
dollar-for-dollar
by
Toyota,
a $1
donation
becomes
$2, $25
becomes
$50,
$100
becomes
$200,
etc.
“At
Toyota,
we want
to build
more
than
just
great
cars and
trucks,”
said
Adams
Mason.
“The
success
of our
communities
is key
to a
healthy
nation.
We are
proud to
continue
our
support
of The
Salvation
Army and
its
mission
of
helping
families
and
individuals
in need,
especially
during
these
uncertain
times
that
have
been
brought
on by
the
coronavirus.
We’re
all in
this
together,
and we
must
combine
our
resources
to help
those in
need, no
matter
where we
live.”
The
Summer
in the
City
Campaign
will
raise
funds,
hope and
awareness
to
support
the next
phase of
the
nonprofit’s
COVID-19
related
assistance
to metro
Detroit.
To date
during
the
COVID-19
pandemic,
The
Salvation
Army
has:
o
Provided
more
than 1.1
million
meals to
families
o Served
more
than
304,000
beverages
to
families
o Helped
nearly
3,700
families
with
utility
and rent
assistance
The
average
electric
bill for
a family
of four
residing
in
Michigan
during
the
summer
months
is
approximately
$97,
while
the
average
monthly
rent in
the city
of
Detroit
is about
$890.
“The
Salvation
Army
knows
how hard
our
region
was hit
by the
COVID-19
pandemic,
and we
want to
continue
providing
assistance
to our
community
in any
way we
can –
but we
would
not be
able to
do that
without
this
generous
support
from
Toyota”
said
Major
Timothy
Meyer,
general
secretary
and
metro
Detroit
area
commander
(regional
chief
operating
officer)
for The
Salvation
Army
Eastern
Michigan
Division.
“We take
pride in
helping
anyone
who
needs it
throughout
the
year; we
have
always
provided
food and
shelter
to
clients
throughout
southeast
Michigan,
as well
as
utility
and rent
assistance
– so the
Summer
in the
City
Campaign
is
another
way
we’re
continuing
our
mission
to ‘Do
The Most
Good’
and help
families
facing
hardships
on the
road to
recovery,
post
COVID-19.”
The
Summer
in the
City
Campaign
is
presented
by
Toyota,
an
organization
with
close
ties to
The
Salvation
Army of
Metro
Detroit.
The
corporation
has been
supporting
The
Salvation
Army for
nine
consecutive
years
with its
Walk in
My Boots
Program
– an
annual
community
outreach
project
where
Toyota
donates
winter
boots
and
socks to
those in
need.
For
more
information
on the
2020
Summer
in the
City
Campaign,
including
a list
of
corporate
champions,
please
visit
www.salmich.org/SummerInTheCity.
Individuals
can Give
Hope and
Give
Light by
donating
to The
Salvation
Army’s
Summer
in the
City
Campaign
by: o
Texting
SUMMER
to 24365
o
Visiting
www.salmich.org
and
clicking
DONATE
o
Calling
877-SAL-MICH
o
Sending
a check
made
payable
to The
Salvation
Army,
to:
16130
Northland
Dr.,
Southfield,
MI 48075
Additional
information
about
The
Salvation
Army’s
response
to the
COVID-19
outbreak
can be
found at
www.salmich.org/COVID19.