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Olympian Visits Syracuse For Salvation Army Celebration Olympian Visits Syracuse For Salvation Army Celebration

By Danyell Monk

DANYELL MONK: INSIDE THE ONCENTER CONVENTION CENTER, RINGING BELLS AND CHRISTMAS MUSIC FILL THE AIR FOR THE SALVATION ARMY’S 51ST ANNUAL CIVIC CELEBRATION. SALVATION ARMY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR, SAMANTHA MILLER, SAYS THIS YEARS EVENT IS BIG AS IT’S THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS IT’S FULLY IN PERSON.

SAMANTHA MILLER: IN 2020 WE DID IT FROM OUR EMCEE’S LIVING ROOM AND IT WAS COMPLETELY VIRTUAL. LAST YEAR WAS A HYBRID SO IT WAS AT SKY ARMORY LAST YEAR AND HOSTED ABOUT 100 PEOPLE IN-PERSON AND THE REST VIRTUAL.

MONK: THE CELEBRATION INCLUDES A LUNCHEON, PRESENTATIONS, AND A GUEST SPEAKER. THIS YEAR’S GUEST SPEAKER, OLYMPIAN LOLO JONES, SAYS THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS HER FIRST TIME IN SYRACUSE THE SALVATION ARMY MAKES IT FEEL LIKE HOME.

LOLO JONES: GROWING UP MY FAMILY AT ONE POINT WAS HOMELESS AND SO WE LIVED IN THE SALVATION ARMY FACILITIES THAT HELPED PEOPLE THAT WERE STRUGGLING WITH POVERTY AND WITHOUT THAT ASSISTANCE I WOULDN’T HAVE THE LIFE THAT I HAVE TO THIS DAY.

MONK: THE CIVIC CELEBRATION HONORS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DO GOOD FOR THE CITY. MILLER SAYS MARY PAT LINDSLEY, A DONOR WHO HELPED FUND THE BOOTH HOUSE, IS ONE BEING HONORED.

MILLER: THE BOOTH HOUSE WHICH IS A RUNAWAY YOUTH SHELTER. SO WE’RE TRANSITIONING FROM ONE PLACE TO A NEW LOCATION SO IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR THEM AND SO A LOT OF THE MONEY WILL HELP PROCEEDS GO TO THAT.

MONK: TODAY’S EVENT HAS DRAWN IN AROUND 800 PEOPLE AND IT’S HOPED BY THE END OF THE DAY THEY WILL HAVE RAISED AROUND 200-THOUSAND DOLLARS. THAT MONEY COMES NOT ONLY FROM TICKET SALES BUT ALSO DONATIONS IN THE RED BUCKETS. IN SYRACUSE, DANYELL MONK, NCC NEWS.

SYRACUSE N.Y. (NCC News) — The Salvation Army’s 51st Annual Civic Celebration took place Tuesday (Oct. 18) at the Oncenter Convention Center. The event featured a luncheon, presentations, and a special guest speaker, Olympian Lolo Jones.

“This is my first time in Syracuse and I’m so excited to be here,” said Jones, who competed in the 2012 and 2008 Olympic Games as a track and field athlete. “Even though this is not my home, the Salvation Army is near and dear to me and actually feels like home.”

According to Jones, growing up her family was homeless at one point. They got help from the Salvation Army and lived in their facilities.  Jones was in Syracuse on Tuesday to help raise money for the Salvation Army Syracuse Area Services so she could help those in situations like she was when she was a child.

The Annual Civic Celebration also rewards those in the Central New York area who go above and beyond for their community. This year, the Salvation Army honored the president of the CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity Robert Simpson, “Oh My Darling,” restaurant owner Ryan Benz, and Booth House contributor Mary Pat Lindsley.

Salvation Army Development Coordinator, Samantha Miller, said she hopes the event will not only help raise money for people in need but also encourage people to volunteer with the Salvation Army.

“We could use volunteers to help in our daycares and help in with our yard clean-up,” said Miller. “Also people to go in and help with our senior center and help in our food pantry stocking shelves. There’s definitely a lot of need for volunteers.

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