New Program Pays Off for Salvation Army

Salvation Army workers stationed in the employee parking lot of Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills on Thursday and Friday were pleased with the large turnout of donations for their first corporate Good Turn Day donation drive.

They expected to bring in more than four tons of clothing, toys and other household items over two days through the partnership with the hospital.

Officials estimate that at $1 per pound of clothing, the drive would generate approximately $8,000 to $10,000 for its Adult Rehabilitation Center in Canoga Park.

And they hoped to spark interest in in-house collecting among other large Valley employers.

“This is a win-win situation,” said Al Heilman, coordinator of community relations for ARC.

“We depend on donations from the community to keep our facility running, and this is a great way to get those donations.”

And Kaiser spokeswoman Linda Quon said the draw for the facility’s employees was the chance to give of themselves.

“It makes us feel good to be part of the community and know that we’re making a difference,” she said. “And the Salvation Army makes it so easy.”

The Salvation Army gave Kaiser hospital employees bags to take home and and bring back filled.

Before 9 Friday morning, the pile of donations on the ground spanned the length of the collection truck, with bags stacked three deep.

Salvation Army conducts annual Good Turn Day drives with the Boy and Girl Scouts of America, but had never before reached out to companies.

“Kaiser employees have been great,” said Capt. James Sloan, administrator of the ARC. “We’re hoping it’ll be even more successful [than with the Scouts]. And it appears to be at this point.”

Donations collected will be processed by residents of the 52-bed rehabilitation center, and will be sold at Salvation Army thrift stores.