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Community support helps The Salvation Army brighten the holidays for families in need.
The Christmas season in Boise/Treasure Valley, Idaho, began with a well-loved tradition: the Boise Holiday Parade. Each year, Santa rides into town at the end of the parade, and the community kicks off the season of giving by helping procure toys for The Salvation Army’s Toy N Joy effort.
The 2015 parade, themed “Christmas Through a Child’s Eyes,” featured children from the community as grand marshal. Along with the children, local celebrities from KTVB Channel 7 came out to assist The Salvation Army collect money and toys.
“The temperature was cold but spirits were warm and bright as the parade wound its way down Maine Street,” said Major Rhonda Lloyd, associate Treasure Valley coordinator and Boise corps officer.
Another annual event, Stuff the Bus, also helps The Salvation Army in Boise/Treasure Valley help families during the holidays. Sponsored by Valley Transit, KTVB and Fred Meyer, the event takes place one Saturday each year, when the community helps the Army collect toys and gifts for thousands of children in need. In 2015, a record number of toys–over 9,000–were collected for the Boise, Nampa and Caldwell Salvation Army Toy N Joy programs.
Prior to the the Stuff the Bus Event, KTVB celebrity shopping teams (males vs. females) competed to see who could buy the most toys for boys or for girls.
“As usual, the girls won!” Lloyd said. “ In reality, though, all the children win because of the community’s commitment to working together to serve others.”
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