NEWS
For Immediate Release
Contact: Barry Frost, 714.832.7100, Ext. 236

EMERGENCY!!!
THE SALVATION ARMY NEEDS YOUR HELP!
ORANGE COUNTY GIVING IS DOWN 26% FROM LAST YEAR!

In Orange County The Salvation Army is in high gear, working hard to feed the hungry and offer hope to those weathering a season of strife during these coming holidays. The Salvation Army needs Orange County's financial support. Giving is down 26% from last year and cash reserves are lower than ever before.

According to Salvation Army Orange County Coordinator Captain Lee Lescano, resources are running thin. There is an urgent need for donations of cash. "We don't want to reach the point of having to turn people away who need our assistance, that would be tragic, because they have nowhere else to go."

2002's economic downslide dealt quite a stunning blow. "The layoffs during this period have kicked off a ripple effect that is still reverberating. During tough times the least fortunate are always first to fall through the cracks and last to dig their way out," says Lescano.

With funds dwindling, everyone who has ever donated to its social service programs are asked to dig deep and find something to give. "Misfortune can strike anyone, any time. Illness, unemployment or accidents…no one is exempt from hard times. And when they hit over a holiday, they pack a special emotional punch. Even a small donation can make a difference," concludes Lescano.

For more information or to send a donation, write to The Salvation Army Orange County, 10200 Pioneer Road, Tustin, CA 92782 or call Bruce Freeman at 714.832.7100 x234.

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