Sprankle's to help Salvation Army units
Customers of Sprankle's Neighborhood Market — or those who have been meaning to check out the new Saxonburg grocery store — should mark their calendars for April 16.
The second annual Campout for Community, scheduled that day, will see 10% of the profits from all three regional Sprankle's Neighborhood Market stores donated to the local Salvation Army service units in each store's community.
Sprankle's also has stores in Kittanning and Leechburg.
In addition, said Saxonburg store owner Doug Sprankle, kettles will be available in the store for donations, and a gofundme.com account will be set up for online donations.
Pennsylvania Skill Games will match donations up to $10,000, Sprankle said.
The Campout for Community event will be livestreamed on Facebook from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. from the Leechburg, Westmoreland County, store. Officials from the communities surrounding all three stores will appear on the livestream, he said.
Saxonburg representatives to appear include an official from the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company; state Rep. Joe Pittman, R-41st; and Karen Boltz, human services coordinator for the Salvation Army, Saxonburg service unit.
Sprankle family members who own the three stores will set up a campsite at the Leechburg store that will serve as the set for the livestream, Doug Sprankle said.
“We're hoping to raise $20,000 this year,” he said. “We really care about the communities, and when you live and work in those communities, you want them to do well.”
Boltz said she is grateful that Sprankle's chose her all-volunteer service unit as the recipient of a portion of the Campout for Community proceeds.
“All of our income is used to help people with their needs, especially utility help in this pandemic,” she said.
Boltz explained that those who have never asked for help, yet have no options left to pay their utility bills because of the pandemic, have reached out to her as a last resort.
“It's not uncommon for me to get a call from a first-time client and have them in tears,” Boltz said. “They don't want to ask.”
She said her service unit can pay up to $200 toward a household's utility bills and will ask the Pittsburgh Salvation Army for additional funds if the bills are higher.
Boltz said a local church and an anonymous group that provides donations also help with higher utility bills for her service unit, which includes Saxonburg, Cabot and Sarver addresses.
Sprankle said he is looking forward to Campout For Community, especially after the isolation required in the past year.
“We are excited to get back out there and talk to people and be inspired,” he said.
To make a donation to the Saxonburg Service Unit of the Salvation Army, send a check made out to “Salvation Army” to Karen Boltz, 215 Hannahstown Rd., Cabot, PA 16023.
“We are grateful for every penny,” Boltz said.
