Posted on 12/27/2004 7:15:04 PM PST by Coleus
The Salvation Army's efforts to help the needy will receive a boost from the state of New Jersey this holiday season, acting Gov. Richard J. Codey announced this week.
"We are opening up rest areas on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway to the Salvation Army for its annual Red Kettle Campaign, and increasing the number of NJ Transit locations available for the campaign," Codey said.
Codey said the Red Kettle Campaign is one the Salvation Army's primary sources of donations, providing Christmas dinners, clothing and toys, as well as financial assistance for families and individuals in need. Last year, the campaign received approximately $1.1 million in donations at New Jersey locations.
"In the spirit of the season, we are reaching out to the Salvation Army to offer our assistance with its annual campaign to raise funds for needy families, seniors and the homeless," Codey said.
The acting governor directed the state agencies to assist the Salvation Army after learning that Target Corp. will not permit Red Kettle Campaign solicitors to collect contributions from shoppers at its stores this year. Target shoppers donated approximately $200,000 at New Jersey stores last holiday season.
Codey's decision will provide the Salvation Army with access to some 1.6 million people who stop at the Turnpike's 12 rest areas each month, as well as more than one million who stop at the Parkway's eight rest areas every month. In addition, more than 120,000 people use NJ Transit's 200 passenger stations each day. In previous years, the Salvation Army collected donations at Newark Penn Station, Hoboken Terminal and the Trenton Train Station.
Codey also has written to Target chairman and chief executive officer Robert J. Ulrich to request that he reconsider the corporation's decision to ban Red Kettle Campaign solicitors this year from soliciting in front of the stores.
Finally, a Governor is standing up. But this could be a woven political agenda for appeasement. We (Conservatives) need to watch him.
This is nice, but are they going to reopen the facilities at the rest areas, or do we have to keep peeing in the bushes?
Doesn't he HAVE to if other organizations have campaigned at these places? Christie Todd-Whitman named a rest stop after Howard Stern, so it isn't like they've never been used for political purposes before.
Hey, the Salvation Army discriminates against homosexual activists. How dare the governor!!
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