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Picttured
from L-R
are
Toyota
Executives,
Curt
McAllister
(Toyota),
Envoy
Jackie
Ellingson
(TSA
Detroit
Grandale),
Major
Bob
Mueller
(TSA
Great
Lakes
Div.),
Bill
Shelmon
(Toyota
R&D),
and
Crystal
Williams
(TSA
Great
Lakes
Board).
(Photo
by HB
Meeks/Tell
Us USA
News
Network) |
|
Toyota
supports
Detroiters
in need
by
donating
winter
boots
and
socks to
Grandale
Neighborhood
By
Wendell
Bryant
tellususa.com
DETROIT,
MI –
Seeking
to
support
neighborhoods
in need,
Toyota
Motor
North
America
stepped
in for
the 12th
consecutive
year to
help a
local
Detroit
community
through
its
“Walk In
My
Boots”
outreach
project.
In
January
2023,
more
than 150
family
members
from The
Salvation
Army
(TSA)
Detroit
Grandale
Corps
Community
Center
on
Detroit’s
west
side
received
new
insulated
winter
boots
and
socks to
help
shield
families
from the
cold.
Winter
can
often be
the most
challenging
time for
many
low-income
families.
With
snow and
freezing
rain,
nothing
gets
cold
faster
than wet
feet.
While
some
programs
offer
winter
coat,
hat and
glove
giveaways,
a
person’s
feet are
often
left
exposed
as many
families
take the
bus or
walk in
the
harshest
of cold
weather.
People
can be
at risk
for
severe
hypothermia,
and the
consequences
can be
fatal.
“Sometimes
it’s
difficult
to
imagine
going
without
– like
not
having a
pair of
quality
boots on
a cold
day,”
said
Major
Bob
Mueller,
Metro
Detroit
Area
Commander
for The
Salvation
Army of
Metro
Detroit.
“This
year’s
‘Walk in
My
Boots’
event
hit
close to
home for
me
because
I grew
up in
Detroit’s
Grandale
neighborhood,
and I
know
firsthand
about
the need
in this
community.
Sturdy
boots
and warm
socks
are
life-changing
in
frigid
Michigan
winters.
Thankfully,
150 of
our
community
members
are
better
equipped
to
weather
the
storm
thanks
to the
generosity
of our
partners
at
Toyota
Motor
North
America.”
Toyota
presents
TSA
Great
Lakes
Division
$15,000.
Major
Bob
Mueller,
TSA
Metro
Detroit
Area
Commander,
Envoy
Jackie
Ellingson
and Bill
Shelmon
(Toyota).
(Photo
by HB
Meeks/Tell
Us USA
News
Network)
With
this
project,
in
Detroit
alone,
Toyota
has
donated
over
2,200
pairs of
boots
and
socks to
local
families
and
contributed
over
$160,000
to The
Salvation
Army
Great
Lakes
Division.
Sharing
resources
throughout
the
Detroit
Metro
area,
boots
and
socks
have
been
given to
families
in need
on
Detroit’s
east
side at
The
Salvation
Army
Conner
Creek
Corps
Community
Center,
in
downtown
Detroit
at TSA
Booth
Services
Shelter,
Head
Start
and
Harbor
Light
facilities,
and at
the
former
TSA
Denby
Center
for
Children
& Family
Services
on the
northwest
side of
Detroit.
The
project
has also
been
held in
Chicago,
Washington
DC,
Baltimore,
Harrisburg,
PA and
Minneapolis,
MN.
“Many
people
know
Toyota
as a car
company,
but
we’re so
much
more
than
that,”
said,
Bill
Shelmon,
executive
project
manager,
R&D
Advanced
Product
Planning
Office,
Toyota
Motor
North
America.
“We are
passionate
about
serving
in the
communities
where we
live and
work.
With so
many
people
in need
due to
the
recent
pandemic
crises
and
economic
downturn,
it’s a
major
reason
why
Toyota
continues
to do
whatever
we can
to
ensure
Detroiters
are
getting
the help
they
need.”
The
Salvation
Army
Detroit
Grandale
Corps
Community
Center
provides
outreach
to the
community
through
social
services
such
helping
families
and
individuals
pay
their
utility
bills
when
faced
with
financial
crisis;
free
fresh
produce
and
canned
goods
through
the food
pantry,
weekly
women’s
ministry
and
church
services.
Efforts
are
underway
to
expand
services
in the
spring.
Toyota
also
donated
$15,000
to The
Salvation
Army
Great
Lakes
Division
enabling
them to
continue
to
support
the
communities
they
serve. A
delicious
hot
luncheon
was
served
to the
families
as well.
Shelmon
said,
“What
better
day to
bring
this
project
to
Detroit
families
then on
the
weekend
celebration
of Dr.
Martin
Luther
King,
Jr.”
Shelmon
mentioned
one of
Dr.
King’s
quotes,
‘Life’s
most
persistent
and
urgent
question
is …
What are
you
doing
for
others?’
He said,
“Toyota
is
answering
the call
by
supporting
those in
need and
transforming
lives…one
step at
a time.”
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