Listen to this article
Target partners with the Army to provide school clothes.
On August 11, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., The Salvation Army and Target partnered in a first-time back-to-school shopping sprees program for elementary children grades k-6. Target selected 10 stores nationwide—three in the Western Territory—to participate in their trial venture. Sites chosen in the West were Los Angeles (Southern California Division), Seattle (Northwest Division), and San Francisco (with participation by both Golden State and Del Oro divisions).
Each child shopper received a “charge” card—donated by Target—valued at $100. Target donated a total of 200 cards to each test site, for a total of $250,000 countrywide. In addition, they gave each site $5,000 for administrative costs. Specifically, Los Angeles received $20,000 in gift cards, plus $5,000 for administrative costs; Seattle received the same; and Del Oro and Golden State split the San Francisco Bay donation.
Additionally, Target offered support for all divisional public relations directors to conduct local media advertising in their local markets.
Western Territory participants
Los Angeles (Southern California Division): South Los Angeles Youth and Community Center, Alegria House, Westwood Transitional Village, and Red Shield Youth and Community Center
San Francisco Bay Area (Del Oro and Golden State divisions): Oakland Social Services, Richmond (El Sobrante) Corps, Hayward Corps, Tri-Cities (Newark) Corps, Redwood City Corps, South San Francisco Corps, San Francisco (Mission) Corps, and San Francisco Kroc Center
Seattle (Northwest Division): Renton Corps, Bellevue (Eastside) Corps, Seattle (White Center) Corps, Seattle (Temple) Corps, Seattle Social Services, Federal Way Corps, and Everett Corps
Participating corps were required to provide chaperones for each child and were encouraged to approach local police and sheriff departments for volunteers.
Future plans
The success of this year’s event will determine future plans for the continuation and expansion of the back-to-school shopping sprees.
Because Target enjoys a longstanding relationship with TSA and national law enforcement, another pilot program—“Shop with a Cop”—recently launched in the Midwest. Each corps involved in the program approached local police and sheriff departments to assist with the volunteer work. Hopes are that this program will also spread nationwide. On August 11, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., The Salvation Army and Target partnered in a first-time back-to-school shopping sprees program for elementary children grades k-6. Target selected 10 stores nationwide—three in the Western Territory—to participate in their trial venture. Sites chosen in the West were Los Angeles (Southern California Division), Seattle (Northwest Division), and San Francisco (with participation by both Golden State and Del Oro divisions).
Each child shopper received a “charge” card—donated by Target—valued at $100. Target donated a total of 200 cards to each test site, for a total of $250,000 countrywide. In addition, they gave each site $5,000 for administrative costs. Specifically, Los Angeles received $20,000 in gift cards, plus $5,000 for administrative costs; Seattle received the same; and Del Oro and Golden State split the San Francisco Bay donation.
Additionally, Target offered support for all divisional public relations directors to conduct local media advertising in their local markets.
Western Territory participants
Los Angeles (Southern California Division): South Los Angeles Youth and Community Center, Alegria House, Westwood Transitional Village, and Red Shield Youth and Community Center
San Francisco Bay Area (Del Oro and Golden State divisions): Oakland Social Services, Richmond (El Sobrante) Corps, Hayward Corps, Tri-Cities (Newark) Corps, Redwood City Corps, South San Francisco Corps, San Francisco (Mission) Corps, and San Francisco Kroc Center
Seattle (Northwest Division): Renton Corps, Bellevue (Eastside) Corps, Seattle (White Center) Corps, Seattle (Temple) Corps, Seattle Social Services, Federal Way Corps, and Everett Corps
Participating corps were required to provide chaperones for each child and were encouraged to approach local police and sheriff departments for volunteers.
Future plans
The success of this year’s event will determine future plans for the continuation and expansion of the back-to-school shopping sprees.
Because Target enjoys a longstanding relationship with TSA and national law enforcement, another pilot program—“Shop with a Cop”—recently launched in the Midwest. Each corps involved in the program approached local police and sheriff departments to assist with the volunteer work. Hopes are that this program will also spread nationwide.