Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Talk of the Town on news radio with thirteen
hundred and one oh six nine FM, now one hundred
years old, by the way. Steve Kelly and Brett Pakita
from West Michigan's Morning News, joined by the Kent County
Development Director of the Salvation Army, Kathy Blackburn on the liveline. Kathy,
thanks for doing this.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Today, absolutely, thanks so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
It is such an important time of year. We hear
a lot from you, literally more this time of year.
So let's start with the twenty twenty four Christmas match
and the kettle that's going on right now that we
see and hear.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah, so you'll see our kettles. We have thirty kettles
around Kent County that are where you'll hear our bells
ring and we are looking for donations. This is the
time of year where we are most visible, although we
provide programming twelve months out of the year to help
people that live in Kent County. But yes, this is
our biggest fundraising time of the year. Our goal is
(00:53):
one point four million dollars that helps. That raises about
seventy five percent of the funds that we need to
operate twelve months out of the year, and we have
had some generous donor step forward that are anonymous to
do a two hundred and fifty thousand dollars match, so
that if you give now, your gift will be matched
up to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, so that
(01:14):
you can give one and you can blast twice.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
And that's through December thirty first. I might add, so
a lot of people that are out there doing maybe
the last minute Christmas shopping, I've got my hand up
by the way, Kathy or out running errands, and you
see the kettle. Not only do you want to do
that and it'll match, but you can do that even
beyond Christmas. I think some people think, okay, Christmas Eve
the natural stopping point, but that's not the case with
this match.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, no, not at all. And you can give online.
You can give by mailing a check to our office.
You can direct your a gift through your IRA or
a donor advice fund, any which way you'd like to give.
Through social media, you will see some social media links
that are out there on Facebook or Instagram or TikTok
(01:59):
for the Salvation Army, any of those gifts electronically or
online or through the mail will be matched there as well.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Sakentcounty dot org. Salvation Army Kentcounty dot org.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
So talk us through that they Can County. Yeah, SA
Kent County dot org.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Talk to us about the two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars match which is going on. Now, how does that work?
The title give once blessed twice. I think it's very telling.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yes, well, if you give twenty dollars, it'll be matched
twenty dollars. So then in an essense, your gift is
forty dollars. So although twenty only twenty dollars is coming
out of your pocket. So please give generously because it'll
be doubled up to that two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars match that we have from these generous anonymous donors.
(02:49):
And so it's it's just wonderful that we've had them
step forward to do this because then it allows us
to help more people that are in need in Can County.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Kathy talk about Salvation Armies each and the different things
are involved with. I think people will be surprised. I mean,
obviously there's Christmas assistants, You've got the emergency food pantry,
which I want to get to because every food pantry
we talk to or people associated with that, the need
for food is unbelievable right now. And I know you've
seen in the last few years a four hundred percent
(03:17):
increase just with yours alone, but the different things that
you guys are involved with in West Michigan.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Yeah, absolutely, and so I think this is one of
the difficult things about the Salvation Army is that we
are different in every community based on need. We are
always there serving to sell the needs that exist to
people that are in need without discrimination in Christ name,
and so we are there helping. And in Kent County
we do a lot of different things. So we have
(03:44):
our five day week emergency food pantry where people can
come in and they can get enough food to sease
their family for six days. They can come in six
times a year, every thirty days and get food for
their families. We also have housing and utility assistance, so
if people are struggling with getting housing and getting that
(04:05):
security deposit or paying that gas bill or electric bill,
they can reach out to us for help that. We
have a program called path We have Hope where we
have a case manager who will walk alongside a family
to help them set goals reach those goals. The whole
purpose of that program has to help break generational poverty,
help people take that step to make their lives better,
(04:28):
make the life of their children better as they move forward.
We also operate two substance abuse programs in Kent County.
One is called West Michigan Harbor Light, where people can
come in, they can detox with us. It's for up
to seven days, and then they can stay with us
for up to ninety days there and they don't have
to have a name brand insurance. We will work with
(04:51):
Medicaid and where one of the few in Kent County
and actually that services all of West Michigan that are
trying to to make a change in their life. To
help that without substance abuse treatment. They recognize they have
a problem with some sort of substance and they want
to make a change, so they can come in, they
(05:11):
can detox with us and then they can stay for
up to ninety days as they try to turn their
life around. The other program that we yeah, the other
program we have is called the Adult Rehabilitation Center, and
that's a six month program that we offer for men only.
In that one, but they can come and they can
stay with us. After they've gone through that detox process,
they can go to the adult rehabilitation center where they're
(05:33):
going to learn life skills and job skills, and again
into six month program where they can stay with us.
And neither one of these programs is going to cost
them anything because we will work with medicaid with it
and there are not very many options out there that
offer that ability to do that without having insurance or
(05:54):
lots of money, and we're able to offer that to people,
which I think is just.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Marvelous, especially now take advantage of that two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars match as the Salvation Army is attempting
to get to a pretty lofty goal SA Kent County
dot org. That's as in Salvation Army SA Kent County
dot org. To find out more information, we are talking
to Kathy Blackburn, who is the Kent County Development Director
(06:21):
at this Salvation Army pointed out just a little while ago,
though you hear and see more of the Salvation Army
this time of year, you help folks here in Kent
County all year long. Is there anything that we left
out though it's cold and the need is greater than ever,
you could certainly use the support all year long.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Absolutely we can for sure, so you know people who'd
like to volunteer. We're always looking for volunteers to help us,
like whether our fleet pantry or some of the other
services we provide. We do operate one of the largest
senior programs in Kent County as well at our Fulton
Heights Corp. So if there are seniors that are interested
in that, we have our center, so that's available. Lots
(07:02):
of kids programming that happens there, as well as workout facilities,
and then and then Christmas assistance, which you mentioned at
the top, but the need there has been twenty one
percent greater this year. We're we're going to help about
five thousand children have a happy holidays at the distribution
for angel Tree is happening right now and we're going
to have over eighteen hundred families come through for the
(07:25):
family assistance. But then last week we also helped seniors
and singles. We gave Angeltree Christmas assistants to about three
hundred seniors last week, so over twenty one hundred individuals
are going to be helped by the Salvation Army with
Christmas assistants during this season.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
What a reach Sakentcounty dot org or by phone six one,
six four five nine thirty four thirty three with the
Salvation Army. The Kent County Development Director Cassy Blackburn, thank
you so much for your time today.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Thank you so much for We appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
This is Talk of the Town on news radio with
thirteen hundred and one oh six nine FM.
It's Talk of the Town on news radio with thirteen
hundred and one oh six nine FM, now one hundred
years old, by the way. Steve Kelly and Brett Pakita
from West Michigan's Morning News, joined by the Kent County
Development Director of the Salvation Army, Kathy Blackburn on the liveline. Kathy,
thanks for doing this.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Today, absolutely, thanks so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
It is such an important time of year. We hear
a lot from you, literally more this time of year.
So let's start with the twenty twenty four Christmas match
and the kettle that's going on right now that we
see and hear.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah, so you'll see our kettles. We have thirty kettles
around Kent County that are where you'll hear our bells
ring and we are looking for donations. This is the
time of year where we are most visible, although we
provide programming twelve months out of the year to help
people that live in Kent County. But yes, this is
our biggest fundraising time of the year. Our goal is
(00:53):
one point four million dollars that helps. That raises about
seventy five percent of the funds that we need to
operate twelve months out of the year, and we have
had some generous donor step forward that are anonymous to
do a two hundred and fifty thousand dollars match, so
that if you give now, your gift will be matched
up to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, so that
(01:14):
you can give one and you can blast twice.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
And that's through December thirty first. I might add, so
a lot of people that are out there doing maybe
the last minute Christmas shopping, I've got my hand up
by the way, Kathy or out running errands, and you
see the kettle. Not only do you want to do
that and it'll match, but you can do that even
beyond Christmas. I think some people think, okay, Christmas Eve
the natural stopping point, but that's not the case with
this match.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, no, not at all. And you can give online.
You can give by mailing a check to our office.
You can direct your a gift through your IRA or
a donor advice fund, any which way you'd like to give.
Through social media, you will see some social media links
that are out there on Facebook or Instagram or TikTok
(01:59):
for the Salvation Army, any of those gifts electronically or
online or through the mail will be matched there as well.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Sakentcounty dot org. Salvation Army Kentcounty dot org.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
So talk us through that they Can County. Yeah, SA
Kent County dot org.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Talk to us about the two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars match which is going on. Now, how does that work?
The title give once blessed twice. I think it's very telling.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yes, well, if you give twenty dollars, it'll be matched
twenty dollars. So then in an essense, your gift is
forty dollars. So although twenty only twenty dollars is coming
out of your pocket. So please give generously because it'll
be doubled up to that two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars match that we have from these generous anonymous donors.
(02:49):
And so it's it's just wonderful that we've had them
step forward to do this because then it allows us
to help more people that are in need in Can County.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Kathy talk about Salvation Armies each and the different things
are involved with. I think people will be surprised. I mean,
obviously there's Christmas assistants, You've got the emergency food pantry,
which I want to get to because every food pantry
we talk to or people associated with that, the need
for food is unbelievable right now. And I know you've
seen in the last few years a four hundred percent
(03:17):
increase just with yours alone, but the different things that
you guys are involved with in West Michigan.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Yeah, absolutely, and so I think this is one of
the difficult things about the Salvation Army is that we
are different in every community based on need. We are
always there serving to sell the needs that exist to
people that are in need without discrimination in Christ name,
and so we are there helping. And in Kent County
we do a lot of different things. So we have
(03:44):
our five day week emergency food pantry where people can
come in and they can get enough food to sease
their family for six days. They can come in six
times a year, every thirty days and get food for
their families. We also have housing and utility assistance, so
if people are struggling with getting housing and getting that
(04:05):
security deposit or paying that gas bill or electric bill,
they can reach out to us for help that. We
have a program called path We have Hope where we
have a case manager who will walk alongside a family
to help them set goals reach those goals. The whole
purpose of that program has to help break generational poverty,
help people take that step to make their lives better,
(04:28):
make the life of their children better as they move forward.
We also operate two substance abuse programs in Kent County.
One is called West Michigan Harbor Light, where people can
come in, they can detox with us. It's for up
to seven days, and then they can stay with us
for up to ninety days there and they don't have
to have a name brand insurance. We will work with
(04:51):
Medicaid and where one of the few in Kent County
and actually that services all of West Michigan that are
trying to to make a change in their life. To
help that without substance abuse treatment. They recognize they have
a problem with some sort of substance and they want
to make a change, so they can come in, they
(05:11):
can detox with us and then they can stay for
up to ninety days as they try to turn their
life around. The other program that we yeah, the other
program we have is called the Adult Rehabilitation Center, and
that's a six month program that we offer for men only.
In that one, but they can come and they can
stay with us. After they've gone through that detox process,
they can go to the adult rehabilitation center where they're
(05:33):
going to learn life skills and job skills, and again
into six month program where they can stay with us.
And neither one of these programs is going to cost
them anything because we will work with medicaid with it
and there are not very many options out there that
offer that ability to do that without having insurance or
(05:54):
lots of money, and we're able to offer that to people,
which I think is just.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Marvelous, especially now take advantage of that two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars match as the Salvation Army is attempting
to get to a pretty lofty goal SA Kent County
dot org. That's as in Salvation Army SA Kent County
dot org. To find out more information, we are talking
to Kathy Blackburn, who is the Kent County Development Director
(06:21):
at this Salvation Army pointed out just a little while ago,
though you hear and see more of the Salvation Army
this time of year, you help folks here in Kent
County all year long. Is there anything that we left
out though it's cold and the need is greater than ever,
you could certainly use the support all year long.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Absolutely we can for sure, so you know people who'd
like to volunteer. We're always looking for volunteers to help us,
like whether our fleet pantry or some of the other
services we provide. We do operate one of the largest
senior programs in Kent County as well at our Fulton
Heights Corp. So if there are seniors that are interested
in that, we have our center, so that's available. Lots
(07:02):
of kids programming that happens there, as well as workout facilities,
and then and then Christmas assistance, which you mentioned at
the top, but the need there has been twenty one
percent greater this year. We're we're going to help about
five thousand children have a happy holidays at the distribution
for angel Tree is happening right now and we're going
to have over eighteen hundred families come through for the
(07:25):
family assistance. But then last week we also helped seniors
and singles. We gave Angeltree Christmas assistants to about three
hundred seniors last week, so over twenty one hundred individuals
are going to be helped by the Salvation Army with
Christmas assistants during this season.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
What a reach Sakentcounty dot org or by phone six one,
six four five nine thirty four thirty three with the
Salvation Army. The Kent County Development Director Cassy Blackburn, thank
you so much for your time today.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Thank you so much for We appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
This is Talk of the Town on news radio with
thirteen hundred and one oh six nine FM.
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