Toyota Donates Winter Boots To Homeless Women and Children

DETROIT, Jan. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor Sales, USA, through its "Walk In My Boots" community outreach project, stepped in to help area homeless women and children by providing new insulated boots -- for the second year -- to the residents of The Salvation Army Denby Center for Children and Family Services in Detroit on Saturday, January 12th.  The Denby Center currently offers shelter for up to 200 residents -- primarily women and single mothers and their children -- due to job loss, house fires, foreclosure or domestic violence.  Residents can remain in the shelter for up to 90 days.  Toyota also gave a $10,000 donation to The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit enabling them to continue to provide refuge for children and families in times of crisis.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130112/DE41569 )

"We are so grateful to Toyota for both the $10,000 donation to the Metro Detroit area, and the footwear donation to the Denby Center specifically, which is especially helpful during these harsh winter months," said Major Mark Anderson, general secretary and Metro Detroit area commander, The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division.  "With the need greater than ever, we are blessed to have support from good corporate citizens like Toyota, who are Doing the Most Good by raising awareness of our mission to feed, shelter and clothe those who are less fortunate."

An estimated 95,000 Michigan residents were homeless in 2011; including 14,000 children under the age of 11.  Over half (51%) were first-time homeless, and 28% of homeless families were the working poor.  In Detroit alone, over 20,000 people were counted as homeless; and urban families were more likely to have a female head of household.  Often homeless individuals do not have adequate clothing to fight the cold elements of a Michigan winter.  While many programs offer winter coat giveaways, a person's feet are often left vulnerable to freezing temperatures and even frost bite.

"At Toyota, we strive to assist the communities where we live and work," said Michael Rouse, vice president, Philanthropy & Community Affairs, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.  "These economic times are challenging for all of us, and we want the work that is being done at The Salvation Army Denby Center for almost 90 years to continue for years to come.  In times like these, we must remember to help one another.  We hope that our donation of winter boots will help to enrich lives…one step at a time."

Through this project, Toyota is also helping the Michigan economy get back on its feet.  The insulated boots were supplied by Moosejaw, a Michigan-based outdoor retailer specializing in outdoor recreation apparel and gear.  Moosejaw has continued to create jobs locally with six locations in Michigan and is expanding while many Detroit area companies are downsizing.

Toyota also treated residents of the facility to a scrumptious luncheon buffet catered by Unique Food Management, Inc.  Residents expressed their gratitude to receive a down-home cooked meal -- something they have missed since their lifestyle emergencies had taken place. 

Toyota Motor Sales, USA
Toyota strives to assist the communities where we live and work by supporting local organizations focused on the areas of environment, education and safety.  In addition, we engage with diverse communities and support initiatives in other areas of need, such as food, housing, and the arts, that enrich and enhance the lives of the people who live there.

Toyota has given over half-a-billion dollars to non-profit organizations in the U.S., and each year, we commit at least 25 percent of our giving to organizations and programs that support diverse communities – a goal we are surpassing.  In 2011, Toyota's philanthropic donations exceeded more than $600 million in the U.S. and nearly 45 percent supported ethnically diverse led organizations and populations.

The Salvation Army Denby Center for Children and Family Services
The Salvation Army Denby Center for Children and Family Services has been a refuge for children and families in times of crisis for almost 90 years.  Currently, the Center shelters and serves up to 200 residents – primarily single women and single mothers; we also serve single fathers and whole families.  These individuals have become victims of unfortunate life circumstances such as house fire, job loss, foreclosure or domestic violence.  The Denby Center provides residents with shelter for up to 90 days.  While in the shelter, residents are able to receive different types of assistance from housing placement assistance, to providing training preparation for future independent life.  Special support services are also available to those in need such as utility assistance, down payment assistance toward first month's rent, food and clothing assistance.   Through our services, we seek to encourage and empower each individual to achieve their unique potential and to strengthen the family unit.

Founded by William and Catherine Booth in London, England in 1865, The Salvation Army is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to serving people in need without discrimination. This past year, The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit was involved in providing 3,194,802 million meals and 687,203 nights of shelter for the homeless. The Salvation Army uses $.85 of every dollar raised to provide direct services to people in need each and every day of the year. For more information about The Salvation Army, please call 877-SAL-MICH, or visit us at www.salmich.org.

SOURCE Toyota Motor Sales, USA