Donations for the drive can be taken to Tim Hortons, 1004 E. Pickard St., until Nov. 11.

When Tim Hortons partnered with The Salvation Army, 1308 Birch St., it decided to give people a thank you gift for their generosity.

“Whoever comes in and donates a coat will be given a free donut,” said Manager Graham Beans.

The drive is officially sponsored by ABC 12 in Flint and radio station 102.5 WIOG.

The goal of Coats for Kids is to get as many coats as possible for children during harsh winter weather, said Mount Pleasant Salvation Army Capt. Brian Reed.

“Some kids don’t have good winter coats, so they can’t go out to recess at school,” Reed said.

He said the Salvation Army’s goal is to collect at least 200 coats to show the children they are loved.

“We’re in the business of helping people and showing them that God loves them,” said Reed, “but we have to meet their physical needs first.”

Beans said Tim Hortons wanted to participate in the drive to lend a helping hand.

“We like that Coats for Kids stands for helping the community,” Beans said. “The community supports us, so we want to give back.”

After the drive ends, coats will be donated to the Salvation Army’s store, as well as their Christmas Outreach program in December.

Christmas Outreach is a group of churches working together with the Salvation Army.

“I’ve always wanted to establish something like this in Mount Pleasant, because nothing has been done to collect coats for kids here,” Reed said. “We choose the Salvation Army because they’re in the business of helping people, and they have always been a part of meeting people’s needs.”

State officials and social service groups are working to find a solution for helping people pay overdue utility bills after losing a main source of funding.

Republican state Rep. Ken Horn, chairman of the House Energy Committee, said an energy bill passed in 2008 allowing the Public Service Committee to collect rates from Detroit Edison and Consumers Energy Co. customers for a low-income reserve fund left out the appropriate language. They can no longer cover the costs by utilizing this fund.

“The court ruled that we’re not able to collect any money this way,” he said. “In addition, the Low Income Home Energy Assistant federal money is likely to be cut in half because of budget concerns in Washington.”

He said there is currently $60 to $65 million in uncollected debt from unpaid electricity bills.

Michigan forbids utility companies from shutting off heat to customers between Nov. 1 and March 30, but there is still concern for the days before and after that time period.

At 11.2 percent, Michigan has the nation’s third-highest unemployment rate and nearly 17 percent of residents are living in poverty, reported by The Detroit News.

Isabella County and Midland Department of Human Services Director Mark Stevens said there are a lot of different heating aids in the community to help low-income residents.

“There’s still going to be some help, but there’s never enough to cover the need,” he said.

An increase in need will be seen in October, according to Bethany Smith, Salvation Army case worker.

“Typically there is a very high need in Isabella county,” she said.

Smith said about 200 to 250 Isabella County residents receive utility assistance every year.

Starting Oct. 1, cash assistance is cutting off about 4,000 people who have received aid for four years during their lifetime, she said, which may cause a higher increase.

“People must go to the Department of Human Services before coming to the Salvation Army for help,” she said. “If we can’t help, we refer them to agencies we know have funding for it.”

Capt. Brian Reed, Mount Pleasant Corps Community Center officer of the Salvation Army, 1308 Burch St., said the decrease in funding may affect how the organization approaches resources.

“We encourage people to plan ahead instead of waiting for a crisis to happen,” he said. “People need to do research on who can help and how they can help.”

Creating a realistic budget will help people be more prepared, Reed said.

“We’ve made a strong commitment to provide to the needs that need to be met,” he said. “God knows what our needs are and he will provide for those needs. We have every confidence in him.”

Horn said the senate and house energy committees are running out of time, but there are two things they want to find possible solutions for.

“We want to get people hooked up, providing immediate help and we want to solve this problem for years to come,” he said. “We are trying to negotiate a settlement; we haven’t dropped the ball on this yet.”

NOLS brought its third annual Leadership Week Celebration to Central Michigan University’s Adventure Center Saturday at Finch Fieldhouse, hosting indoor wall-climbing for the cost of one non-perishable food item.

“Our main focus of the week this year is community service and food shortage is one of the areas of biggest need,” said NOLS Leadership Week liaison Michael Trewartha. “It is about bringing the CMU community together with the outside community in more ways than one.”

The Caspian senior said the donations were given to Mount Pleasant’s Mobile Food Pantry and then distributed to the Salvation Army and food banks around town.

NOLS alumnus and Farmington Hills senior Scott Lowen said all ages and climbing abilities were welcomed to the event.

“It is a good chance for people to come out, climb and have fun,” Lowen said.

After signing a safety waiver, NOLS volunteers and employees helped eager participants take the ropes.

“My girlfriend loves to climb, so I came out with her after I heard about it from an announcement in lecture,” Ravenna junior Nicholas Smith said. “As a college I think it’s good we can help out and donate to the Mount Pleasant community.”

Local residents also came out to support the cause.

Mount Pleasant resident LeAnn Yates brought her 4-year-old daughter Clara and cans of beans and tomatoes for a day of indoor climbing.

“At first she was hesitant, then she started climbing up the wall and I can tell she was having fun,“ Yates said. “It’s nice to be supporting the community while watching my daughter doing something she loves.”

To help achieve the NOLS mission, food donation boxes were also distributed in the academic halls all week where students could make contributions.

Trewartha said Climb for a Can collected more than 100 canned goods after the three hour session.

They’re are all costumes that were homemade by CMU students for Halloween escapades.

Kady Jesko said rarely in her life has she ever purchased a pre-made Halloween costume. The New Boston senior’s favorite part of participating in Halloween is being able to design her own costume.

“I feel that making your own costume offers a way for your own personality to come through the costume,” she said.

Jesko said the best way to go about designing costumes is to go “thrifting” and see what stores have to offer. Clothes that are in your closet are also perfect pieces to re-do or design on, she said.

Ryan O’Neill, a Livonia senior, said he has billions of costume ideas, which tends to be a problem around Halloween time.

“You can be anything if you just look in your closet,” O’Neill said.

Jesko recommended Jo-Ann’s Fabrics, the Salvation Army, antique shops and Wal-Mart as other great places to get costume pieces.

Her costume of choice this year is a paintbrush. She said all necessary supplies only cost her around $10.

One of O’Neill’s favorite costumes was Waldo of “Where’s Waldo?” for which he was able to use clothes and materials he already owned.

“Getting costumes is easy,” he said. “Playing the character is the hard part.”

He said finding the right costume is about taking the look you see and trying to make it happen.

Davison sophomore Jessica Breidenstein chose to portray The Bird, a local bar in downtown Mount Pleasant.

“Extended family of mine owns the bar,” Breidenstein said, “so I thought it would be a great idea to portray it with my costume.”

A simple black tee shirt from the bar paired with a black skirt made entirely of feathers complete the costume’s look, she said.

She said her choices were influenced by the music video for Kanye West’s song “Runaway.”

“I am really good with hair and makeup, so I thought his look in the video would be a great inspiration for ‘The Bird’ look,” she said.

Breidenstein said she chose to design her costume rather than purchase it because she is saving up for a birthday trip to Chicago.

“I have so many things in my closet already,” she said, “and I think it is better than anything I could buy at Halloween USA.”

Students, staff and Mount Pleasant residents gathered at the park to participate in the annual CROP Walk. CROP, Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty, is an event that offers participants an option of one-, two- or five-mile walks to combat hunger and poverty.

“The Walk is to help people around the world,” said Charlie Farnum, chairman of the CROP Walk Committee and director of Wesley Church. “Twenty-five percent of the money raised stays here in Mount Pleasant and the rest goes around the world.”

The Isabella Community Soup Kitchen, the Red Cross Food Pantry and the Salvation Army will all receive a portion of the proceeds from the CROP walk, which is sponsored internationally by the Church World Service and locally by many churches in the area.

CROP walks began in the 1960s. Since then, they have spread across the nation, with over 2,000 communities holding the walks annually. This year’s turnout was much larger than in previous years, said Mount Pleasant resident Helen Thomas, registrar of the CROP Walk Committee.

“We were hoping for 200 walkers this year, and with so many students here I think we might have went over it,” she said. “Our goal is to get $25,000.”

As the walkers came in, the amount collected was $14,675, not including online donations, Thomas said.

It was the third time Allison Mazur attended a CROP walk.

“I know it’s cliche, but I really just like helping people,” the Ludington senior said.

Among the walkers were University President George Ross, honorary chairman for the Crop Walk Committee and Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe.

Ross started off the event with a speech praising the walk for its efforts to help stop hunger.

“Thank you for caring,” Ross said. “The work you are doing here today is very important.”

The CMU Leadership Institute was also involved in organizing the walk, helping to organize and set up the event, Farnum said. Mount Pleasant businesses are also big donors for the walk.

“The majority of people who die of hunger, die within walking distance of the food they need,” Farnum said, “Hopefully we can help change that.”

For a homecoming dance in high school, the St. Clair Shores senior purchased a green beaded dress for only $8.25.

“It was perfect for the dance and after it was over, I took the dress back and donated it again,” she said.

She said she purchases about 80 percent of her T-shirts at either Goodwill- or Salvation Army-type shops.

Jessica Wilson, Sterling Heights junior, said she found one of her favorite accessories, a painted gold belt made from welded metal, at a thrift store.

“It’s just one of those things that look really cool,” Wilson said.

When she was younger she bought old prom dresses and wedding dresses and would run around the house playing dress-up.

“My mom would have to cut the dresses because I was way too small for the dress to be worn properly,” Wilson said.

Elkton senior Lauren Jade Senter said she found one of her favorite hooded sweaters among discount store racks.

“It’s really nice to shop at thrift stores, especially because there is a 10 percent discount at Goodwill,” she said. “It makes life a little easier,”

Other amenities

Whenever Galvez browses the aisles she keeps an eye out for video tapes to make use of her old television’s VHS tape deck.

“I enjoy it when I can find old Disney movies or even Backstreet Boys videos,” she said.

Her favorite purchase from the Salvation Army was a wooden orange padded chair, which she got for only $9.

It is a lot of fun shopping at the stores because you get a lot without having to pay a lot, she said.

Wilson said for Christmas every year, she likes to buy a really ugly vase for her mom, and shopping at the Salvation Army makes it easy for her to make the appropriate purchase.

The Mount Pleasant Police Department is investigating a larceny reported at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday at 1208 Burch St., in which jewelry valued at $4,586 was taken. Police are interviewing a group of high school students that were at the residence Monday, said MPPD Public Information Officer Dave Sabuda. The mother of one of the students noticed the jewelry was missing after the group left.

Debate on tanning beds

There will be an hour-long public debate on “Should the U.S. outlaw tanning beds?” from 7 to 8:15 p.m. today in Moore Hall Room 105. This issue will be debated by Central Michigan University students from COM 267: Introduction to Debate. They will debate both sides of the issue on tanning beds. The arguments are followed by questions/discussion from the audience. For more information, contact Jeff Drury in the Department of Communication and Dramatic Arts at 774-3950.

Scholarship Exhibition

Central Michigan University students who are recipients of Art Department scholarships are featuring their work from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in the University Art Gallery’s West Gallery. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, contact the art gallery at 774-3800.

Issue Day

Issue Day provides resources to the Central Michigan University community through a one-day conference. The presentation covers a wide range of topics that will allow attendees to increase their knowledge about certain issues from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the Bovee University Center Rotunda. For more information, contact the Volunteer Center at 774-7685.

Turkey Trot

Fabiano Hall is having its annual Turkey Trot on Sunday. It is a 5k walk/run around campus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting in the Fabiano Hall lobby. After the walk/run, participants will be served a pancake breakfast. Check-in begins at 10 a.m. and the race starts at 11:11 a.m. Registration and race starts outside Fabiano Hall by the fountains. There are gift certificate prizes available. Runners/ walkers can sign up by e-mailing turkeytrot2009@yahoo.com with their name, contact number and shirt size, or just register that morning. For more information, contact Celani/Fabiano staff Steve Wincent at (517) 936-8438. Admission is $10.

Box Stuffing

Volunteers can help stuff Thanksgiving boxes at the Salvation Army from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday at Salvation Army, 1308 Burch St. Contact Erin Herrington with questions at the Volunteer Center at 773-4663.

In Whose Honor

“In Whose Honor: American Indian Mascots in Sports” is a documentary on the Native American groups and their struggles, followed by a discussion. The event takes place from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Monday in the Bovee University Center Auditorium. This event is a part of Native American Heritage Month and sponsored by the Native American Programs. For more information, contact Native American Programs Director Colleen Green at 774-2508. Admission is free.

David Garcia Project

Training for David Garcia Project facilitators will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today in the Lake Michigan Room in the Bovee University Center. Training is sponsored by the Volunteer Center. For more information, contact Jenny Jordan in the Volunteer Center at volunteer.center@cmich.edu.

Despite cutbacks around Michigan, the 2009 goal for the bell-ringing campaign is $55,000. The branch met last year’s goal of $50,000.

“We increased it because we saw an increase in need,” said Capt. Brian Reed of the Isabella County branch. “We are very confident that this community can step up and help others. It’s not a ‘sucking it up’ attitude.”

Bell ringers will be stationed around Mount Pleasant at both Walgreens, 1309 S. Mission St. and 903 N. Mission St.; Wal-Mart, 4208 E. Blue Grass Road; Sam’s Club, 4850 Encore Blvd.; and Kroger, 4080 E. Blue Grass Road.

The Salvation Army also is setting up a number of counter kettles around the community. The counter kettle at 7-Eleven, 302. W. Broomfield St., is one of the Salvation Army’s most profitable kettles.

“It’s a great opportunity for us and we’re thankful for the college students, knowing their financial situation,” Reed said.

Others lowering

The Isabella County branch is part of the Western Michigan and Northern Indiana division of the Salvation Army.
Last week, the Eastern Michigan division announced its overall fundraising goal would be lowered because of the economy.

While the eastern Michigan goal is down, the Western Michigan and Northern Indiana division divides their cities into “cores,” which the overall goal is derived from.

“Overall, as a division, each core sets their own goals,” said Kris Palosaari, divisional development director for the Grand Rapids division.

The division is hoping to maintain last year’s levels in spite of the economy.

“It’s between those that are maintaining, a few are raising (their goal), and are offset by a few that are lowering,” said Maj. Ralph Bukiewicz of the Grand Rapids division. “I would say across the board, everyone is being as assertive as possible with their plans.”

A few communities, such as Isabella County, are raising their goals because they feel there are opportunities that have not been fulfilled in the past.

The proceeds will go back to the operating budget of the Salvation Army. Around 35 percent of the proceeds will be spent for the Christmas season, and the rest should last until April or May of 2010.

The bell-ringing campaign runs Mondays through Saturdays between Nov. 16 and Dec. 24.