ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, October 30, 1996 TAG: 9610300063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
IN TIMES LIKE THESE, an organization that needs money has to get creative about it. Has to show its mettle, so to speak.
Last spring, the Salvation Army Roanoke Corps pulled out its Christmas bell-ringers and red kettles and spent one warm week in May raising money.
Now, as more and more charitable organizations are competing for contributions, the Army is dabbling in the used-car business.
The corps said this week it is seeking donations of used cars, trucks, motorcycles and campers. The vehicles will be auctioned, and proceeds will support the Turning Point, the corps' shelter for abused women and their children.
"With the number of appeals that folks receive and the number of charities starting now, it takes a little more on everybody's part in terms of creative ways to raise financial support," said Anthony Juliana, the corps' administrative/ministry assistant.
The idea was borrowed from a Salvation Army corps in the Washington, D.C., area that for several years has solicited donations of vehicles and auctioned them weekly. Last year, the auctions raised more than $900,000 for that corps' adult rehabilitation center, Juliana said.
"We just thought rather than reinventing the wheel that we'd go ahead and try this, test the market in Roanoke and see what the results and response would be," he said. "Our goal is to raise somewhere around $100,000."
Juliana said the Salvation Army would like to hold auctions once a month. That would depend on the number of vehicles donated, he said.
The first donation is scheduled to be delivered today. It's a 1979 Mercedes Benz.
For more information on the program, call the Salvation Army Roanoke Corps at 343-5335.
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