PITTSBURGH, Feb. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During one of the coldest weeks of the winter in February of 2014, 100.7 Star partnered with The Salvation Army, Highwoods Properties, Highmark and other sponsors to raise awareness of family homelessness through the "Man in a Box" campaign. Flick, afternoon radio host of "Flick and Kelly" on 100.7 Star, was so overwhelmed by the community's response that he is taking on the challenge again, February 25 through the 27, 2015. "Living in a 4 ft. x 8 ft. Plexiglas box 12 hours a day and staying in a homeless shelter at night was not easy, but it's nothing compared to challenges that people who are actually homeless face day in and day out. If doing this for 3 days again this year helps to educate and inspire more people to help, it's more than worth it," says Flick, of his upcoming time in "the box" that will be situated at Highwoods Properties' PPG Place, near the MassMutual Pittsburgh Ice Rink in downtown Pittsburgh. Flick will once again be experiencing some of the hardships of living homeless first hand. He will have minimal shelter and heat, and only the same food provided to the homeless by The Salvation Army.
It can be easy to forget that homelessness is a daily reality for many people. As we are preparing for our own family dinners, many others are choosing between buying food and shivering in the cold. Too often, when we see a homeless person on the streets, we want to look the other way. The unfortunate truth is that there are many more families with no housing, who remain unseen. "Man in a Box" will provide awareness and support The Salvation Army's Red Shield Campaign, benefitting their Emergency Disaster Services program, Family Caring Center and Comprehensive Social Services, all of which play a role in assisting the homeless. "The issue of homelessness is serious and deserves everyone's attention and compassion," said William Bode, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army's Western PA Division. "I thank and commend CBS radio, and especially Flick, for helping us in such a unique way to educate the public and encourage support of The Salvation Army in addressing the needs of the community." Funds will be raised through corporate donations, on-site kettle collections, and online donations made via starpittsburgh.com or wpa.salvationarmy.org.
Local businesses supporting "Man in a Box" include Highmark, GetGo, Lighthouse Electric, and SDC Remodeling. If your business would like help join the fight against homelessness, please contact Alyssa Baker at The Salvation Army at 412.446.1644 for more information.
The Salvation Army is dedicated to caring for the poor, feeding the hungry and educating youth. Every day, The Salvation Army attends to the needs of homeless families and their children, helping break the cycle of poverty. They respond to disasters, shelter the homeless, reunite families, and renew health to addicts. Wholistic service is the goal, meeting physical, social, psychological, emotional and spiritual needs of families and individuals. Both a church and a social service organization, The Salvation Army began in London, England in 1865. Today, it provides critical services in 126 countries worldwide. The 28-county Western Pennsylvania Division serves thousands of needy families through a wide variety of support services. To learn more about The Salvation Army in Western Pennsylvania, log onto wpa.salvationarmy.org, twitter.com/SalArmyPGH or facebook.com/SalvationArmyWesternPA. The Salvation Army … Doing the most good . . . for the most people . . . in the most need.
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SOURCE The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division
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