PLATTSBURGH — Three city intersections. Four hours. $5,000.
That’s the Coin Drop goal for the Salvation Army Plattsburgh Corps under Major Francisco “Raul” Rivera, and his wife, Major Wanda Rivera, and volunteers on Saturday, June 8, at the intersections of U.S. Ave./South Platt and Peru/South Peru St., Beekman St./Cornelia St., and Margaret St./Sailly Ave.
Volunteers are still needed for shifts from noon to 2 p.m. Those who would like to volunteer can text CoinDrop to 31333 to sign up.
“This a normal fundraising event between fall and summer,” he said.
“The idea is with this collection helping, of course, with the operations with the money that we use to help the community. We have our food pantry, our feeding program. For this time of the year, we really run very, very low in funds. So, we try to target.”
Last year’s fundraiser before the Riveras’ arrival netted $3,000.
“We are trying to cover the three intersections that we are doing this activity, Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., only four hours,” he said.
“We were expecting to have 24 volunteers to cover those three intersections.”
The Salvation Army Plattsburgh Corps is experiencing a budget deficit at this point due to the increasing needs and more new families in need who never needed help before at the food pantry, soup kitchen, and case management programs.
“We have seen a steady increase in families and individuals coming to The Salvation Army for assistance as the cost of living continues to have the biggest impact on those already struggling to put food on the table,” Major Wanda Rivera said.
“Donations from this event will help us to continue our vital programs and services to help those most in need in our community.”
On a sweeter note, today is National Donut Day, which originated actually by The Salvation Army giving donuts during WWI by Donut Lassies.
“The Salvation Army got involved in the First and Second World Wars,” Rivera said.
“The ladies who went voluntarily to serve, preparing donuts and giving free with coffee to soldiers who were serving in the battle. From then is where we start this tradition to serve and have donuts for the people. The same we do here, people who come to our feeding programs, we give donuts to them. We serve three days of the week. We serve food Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.”
In the past, the Salvation Army made donuts from scratch.
“We are very low in funds,” he said.
“This year, we’ve been really tight for the cost of a donut is very high. In the past, they cooked it and they prepared it traditionally.”