Bobby Carpenter speaks at Salvation Army Red Kettle Kickoff
FAIRFIELD COUNTY − The Fairfield County Salvation Army kicked off its Red Kettle fundraising campaign with a luncheon on Thursday morning at The Mill Event Center in Lancaster.
This campaign is a yearly fundraiser held by the Salvation Army, placing red kettles all throughout the community for spare money and change to be placed in.
According to Captain Bryan DeMichael, commanding officer of The Salvation Army in Fairfield County, this fundraiser brings in around $100,000 to the Fairfield County community every year.
"Locally, we're usually right around $100,000 every year," said DeMichael. "During 2020 we were up to $105,000 and last year we were at $95,000. So, it's kind of that variation right in there."
In 2022, DeMichael said that the goal is to reach that $100,000 mark again.
"Our goal this year is really right at that $100,000" said DeMichael. "We figure, you know, go with the average."
While DeMichael said that this money helps the Salvation Army in their Christmas efforts, that support does not stop there. The money from this fundraiser actually assists the Salvation Army all throughout the year.
"The money we receive on kettles helps us to purchase things at Christmas, but it also supports us all year long," said DeMichael. "So, the resources that we receive from the Red Kettle campaign, that's what keeps the food pantry going, that's what enables us to provide programs for teens and youth here in the community, it's what helps support our Samaritan Center."
Appearing at the Red Kettle Kickoff Luncheon was the World's Largest Red Kettle, which the Salvation Army uses as a promotional tool to get donations.
"It's kind of a neat visual to be able to show," said DeMichael. "It's really been fun to get it out into the schools and really see the younger kids participating."
"We try to remind everybody that, sometimes we'll hear, 'I can only give a dollar' or 'I can only give a quarter'," said DeMichael. "Well, the fact of the matter is that all of those things together add up and that's what enables us to do it. So, having the visual of the kettle and everybody putting their little bit in helps us to really reinforce that idea of it's all of us coming together."
Speaking at the event as Keynote Speaker was Bobby Carpenter, a Lancaster High School alumni turned Ohio State Buckeye, NFL football player, business owner and radio personality.
More: Former NFL player and Lancaster native Bobby Carpenter opens new business in Columbus
Carpenter said that the opportunity to speak at The Salvation Army's event was one he could not pass up because of the good work they do in the community.
"Anything that's supporting The Salvation Army and what they do, they've been a huge impact in the community for a long time," said Carpenter. "Anytime you can get behind that and be a part of it is something you're always going to say yes to."
According to Carpenter, the work that The Salvation Army does is so important because they are impacting people at a young age.
"We're in such a rough time now in our country, so if you can positively impact people at a young age that's going to have a massive impact down the line," said Carpenter.
Coming back to his hometown of Lancaster and speaking in front of the community was an honor, said Carpenter. According to him, the impact the community has had and continues to have on his life is significant.
"It means everything, this is where my grandparents are from, where my parents are from," said Carpenter. "I'm here so much, my kids love it. It helped form me for better or worse, my friends, my parents. Just watching Fairfield County and Lancaster continue to grow and thrive has been pretty special and it's a place that's always been near and dear to my heart."
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Bobby Carpenter speaks at Salvation Army Red Kettle Kickoff
