Concordia SAAC Helps Out Mascot Challenge

MOORHEAD, Minn. (12/05/12)—The Concordia Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) helped the Salvation Army in their fifth annual Mascot Challenge on Saturday at the Scheels sporting goods store in Fargo. The student athletes and Kernel Cobber helped raise over $1,900 on the day.

The promotion was a special event for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. The mascots from Concordia College, Minnesota State University Moorhead and North Dakota State University “battled” it out for several hours in front of the store’s main entrance. The Kernel, Scorch and Thundar enthusiastically greeted shoppers and posed for pictures with fans while student/athletes and athletic department leaders rang the bells in hopes that their kettle would raise the most money.

"The Mascot Challenge was a wonderful, fun-filled and creative way for the athletic departments of our local colleges to raise funds for The Salvation Army," said The Salvation Army's Captain Bill Mealy. "We are so grateful to the mascots, the student athletes and the athletic department leadership teams for supporting our ministry in this manner.   

Concordia’s contingent of The Kernel and members of the Cobber SAAC raised almost $400 during the afternoon. The group from MSU Moorhead, which included the mascot “Scorch”, raised $520 and Thundar and the NDSU student/athlete volunteers had $997 in donations.

“I was very happy to see the way our student/athletes responded to this volunteer opportunity,” said Concordia SAAC advisor Ben Schneweis. “They were a part of a great cause and had fun interacting with all the people during the event.”   

Additional volunteers are needed to help staff the 34 kettles located across Fargo-Moorhead between now and Dec. 24. Businesses, organizations, families and individuals are all needed to help ring the bells in order to help the Salvation Army meet the needs of individuals and families in the year ahead. Call (701) 356-2691 to sign up today. Staff is available and looking forward to visiting with you about this opportunity!

About The Salvation Army
Motivated by the love of God, as a leader in Christian faith-based human services, The Salvation Army is committed to serve the whole person, body, soul and spirit with integrity and respect, using creative solutions to positively transform lives. The Salvation Army has served in Cass and Clay Counties for 114 years. The Army’s spiritual and social services affect the lives of thousands of people in our communities each year. This holiday season alone, more than 1,800 families will be served.