Salvation Army

BURBANK--The Salvation Army, Burbank Corps, will kick off its annual "Red Kettle Drive" starting today throughout the city. The ringing of the bell and the traditional red kettles have been a part of the holiday season all over the world. "We need desperately to find more locations to place our kettles and volunteers to stand there for a few hours," said Capt. Moy Hernandez, administrator of the Burbank Corps. "These donations, and others, are what enable the Salvation Army to provide the many services to needy families throughout the year."

Gary Moskowitz BURBANK -- Dozens of residents and companies helped The Salvation Army provide holiday treats for local families. Through food boxes, the Angel Tree Program and volunteers, The Salvation Army was able to provide gifts for 2,300 Burbank children this holiday season. The Angel Tree Program has operated in Burbank for seven years. Volunteers place a 6-foot Christmas tree on the third floor of the Media City Center and hang the names of children who residents can provide holiday gifts for. About 125 residents volunteered their time to the Angel Tree Program this year, working two-hour shifts at the Media City Center.

Maya Kukes BURBANK -- Around the time that houses are decked out with icicle lights and Christmas trees peek from front windows, food drives and generosity abound. But the holidays were nearly six months ago and the food pantry at the Burbank branch of The Salvation Army is running low. The pantry serves a diverse Burbank community as well as people from North Hollywood, Tujunga and Sun Valley. It provides a hot breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday and gives canned and packaged food to anyone in need.

BURBANK— Boy Scout Mark Thomas wouldn’t have wanted to spend his Saturday morning any other way than beautifying one of the city’s most cherished facilities Armed with hand shovels and gardening gloves, Mark, 17, and 25 other Boy Scouts and volunteers, dug holes for blossoming bougainvillea and laid wood chips in a planting bed along the Salvation Army’s building exterior wall on Angeleno Avenue. “I wanted something that was going to be there for them and easy to maintain afterward,” the Burbank resident said.

Hoping for a gift in this season of giving, about 30 needy people, mostly women, waited patiently for the doors to open at the Salvation Army near downtown Burbank Thursday morning. Ana and Tony Tamayo of North Hollywood said they heard about the Salvation Army's program to provide food and other items for Christmas through friends, and this year, they needed the extra assistance. “We lost our apartment, we lost our jobs, we're unemployed,” Tony Tamayo said in Spanish. “This helps us give something to our children.” The giveaway has happened every year since the Salvation Army opened its doors in Burbank in 1957, said Lt. Kari Rudd.

Wearing a Santa hat and a red vest, Ray Dollinger rolled into the dining room at the Salvation Army of Burbank in his wheelchair, claimed a spot at a table and waited for dinner to be served. Dollinger came to the Salvation Army Burbank Corps Community Center on Wednesday to eat a Thanksgiving meal complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and pumpkin pie for dessert. "I've been here about four or five times," Dollinger said, pushing back his plate. "I've actually lost track."

--Lolita Harper BURBANK -- Starbucks is encouraging customers and employees to donate new, unwrapped toys for needy children. Holiday Angel banners, with gift tags suggesting appropriate gifts, are displayed at participating Starbucks locations until Saturday. Customers can pick a gift tag, purchase the gifts and then drop them off -- unwrapped -- at their local Starbucks. The Salvation Army will collect, wrap and distribute the presents to families in Burbank.

Salvation Army hiring workers for holidays The Salvation Army, Burbank Corps, is hiring Red Kettle workers for the annual Red Kettle Drive that runs from Nov. 21 to Dec. 24. The salary is $8 per hour, and the kettles will be placed in Burbank, North Hollywood and Sun Valley locations. Proceeds from the Kettles provide funds for social services and the corps? daily operations. Applications can be filled out from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Burbank Corps office, 300 E. Angeleno Ave., Burbank.

Salvation Army welcomes new officers The Salvation Army, Burbank Corps, has announced the arrival of Lts. Eric and Kari Rudd . Prior to answering the "call" to full-time service to the Salvation Army, they lived in Lake Arrowhead. Eric Rudd was employed for a publishing firm and Kari Rudd was a banker. They have been long-time fans of Los Angeles and feel completely at home in Burbank. Their passions include the arts, as Eric Rudd's college degree is in fine arts.

Hoping for a gift in this season of giving, about 30 needy people, mostly women, waited patiently for the doors to open at the Salvation Army near downtown Burbank Thursday morning. Ana and Tony Tamayo of North Hollywood said they heard about the Salvation Army's program to provide food and other items for Christmas through friends, and this year, they needed the extra assistance. “We lost our apartment, we lost our jobs, we're unemployed,” Tony Tamayo said in Spanish. “This helps us give something to our children.” The giveaway has happened every year since the Salvation Army opened its doors in Burbank in 1957, said Lt. Kari Rudd.

The Assistance League of Glendale hosts a “Christmas in July” sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday at the Assistance League Thrift Alley, 314 E. Harvard St., Glendale. There will be ornaments, books, jewelry, crafts, formal outfits, fabrics and more for sale. The thrift alley will be transformed into a winter wonderland. Proceeds support the organization's philanthropies, some of which provide clothing and school supplies for children and academic scholarships.

A Cinderella-like transformation has happened in the 300 block of East Angeleno Avenue. Salvation Army of Burbank opened its doors to the public Wednesday afternoon and invited visitors to view its newly renovated community center. Lifetime member Elaine Paonessa was as surprised as she was proud as she toured the facility. “I remember when this was just a storage room,” she said as she walked through the new computer lab. “I’m totally overwhelmed.” In addition to the donated computer lab where the public is encouraged to participate in technology and language classes, the facility also boasts a new music room, art studio, outside barbecue area and an area set aside for gardening.

Burbank Noon Lions recently recognized local level competition winners in the annual Lions Clubs International Peace Poster Contest during an awards presentation on Nov. 22 at the Burbank Central Library. First-level winners are Tnick Trivimol , Jordan Middle School; Cameron Sauve , Luther Burbank Middle School; and Sylvia Touris , Boys & Girls Club. Students receiving awards were selected by personnel from their respective schools. "Vision of Peace" was the theme for the contest.

Salvation Army welcomes new officers The Salvation Army, Burbank Corps, has announced the arrival of Lts. Eric and Kari Rudd . Prior to answering the "call" to full-time service to the Salvation Army, they lived in Lake Arrowhead. Eric Rudd was employed for a publishing firm and Kari Rudd was a banker. They have been long-time fans of Los Angeles and feel completely at home in Burbank. Their passions include the arts, as Eric Rudd's college degree is in fine arts.

SALVATION ARMY RED KETTLE CONTINUES The Salvation Army, Burbank Corps, kicked off its annual Red Kettle Drive on Nov. 20 at Ralphs Market in Burbank. Those present were Burbank Mayor Gary Bric , Corps Capt. Mario Ruiz and Burbank Civitan members DeeDee Ruhlow and Joan Newbro . The ringing of the bell and the traditional Red Kettle have been a part of the holiday season all over the world since 1895. The Red Kettle funds provide services for needy families throughout the year.

BURBANK ? The Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and Greater East Valley, its resources stretched thin by the languid economy, saw twice as many members come through its doors this summer than last, club directors said. Despite the proliferation of summer camps ? from afternoon to sleep away, to camps targeting athletes, ballerinas and astronauts ? more than 400 boys and girls enrolled, doubling last year?s membership and pushing the clubs? facilities to their limits. But the increase in members has done little to help the club?

A retailer in Athens, Ga., recently held a donation drive for the Salvation Army. But it wasn?t your typical ho-hum, run-of-the-mill canned food drive. No, this CVS store posted a sign making it clear that its customers were encouraged to drop off not cans but ?cans.? Around the same time, visitors to an unidentified theater were greeted with a sign inviting them to attend a meet-and-greet, not with donuts, but with ?donuts.? Elsewhere, a seafood retailer posted a sign telling customers, ?

Boy Scout Mark Thomas wouldn’t have wanted to spend his Saturday morning any other way than beautifying one of the city’s most cherished facilities Armed with hand shovels and gardening gloves, Mark, 17, and 25 other Boy Scouts and volunteers, dug holes for blossoming bougainvillea and laid wood chips in a planting bed along the Salvation Army’s building exterior wall on Angeleno Avenue. “I wanted something that was going to be there for them and easy to maintain afterward,” the Burbank resident said.