Cloquet Salvation Army kicks off season of giving
Nov. 8—CLOQUET — The Salvation Army is perhaps best known for its red kettles set up outside big-box stores and supermarkets during the holiday season; however, it is not the only effort the organization has to help those in need during the season of giving.
The Adopt A Family program directly "assists families in the community who are struggling" by helping them provide Christmas gifts and also necessities for children, said Sue Butkiewicz, Salvation Army social services coordinator.
Families seeking assistance will fill out a wish list with specific items they need. Individuals who volunteer to be adopters then receive a list for a child and purchase the items.
To keep the wish list fair for adoptees and reasonable for adopters, Butkiewicz said wish list items are no more than $50.
In addition, the Salvation Army sets up a "toy shop" with donations received from Bentleyville and the Cloquet Police Department so children can pick out additional gifts outside their wish list, which often includes clothing like winter jackets and boots.
A total of 286 children were adopted in 2022, a number Butkiewicz is expecting to exceed in 2023.
Wrenshall resident Judy Tribby has participated in the Adopt A Family program as well as the Red Kettle Campaign for several years with Riverside Church in Carlton. She said church members will contribute to adopt a few families every year.
"It's always been kind of a fun project to do and I think it makes our congregational members feel good ... to me, it just kinda starts out Christmas," Tribby said.
Registration for adoptees and adopters is Nov. 1-22. Those who are interested in either role can go to the Salvation Army social services office, 316 Carlton Ave., or call Sue Butkiewicz at 218-879-1693 or 218-879-5447 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Those who may not have the means to adopt a family but still want to help make a difference this holiday season can volunteer as a bell ringer, which Butkiewicz said they "are desperately in need of."
Butkiewicz said the Red Kettle Campaign is the Salvation Army's biggest fundraiser and supports its year-round emergency services in Carlton County, which includes rent and utility assistance, the food shelf, counseling and youth services.
"Last year, our kettles were $15,000 less than what we normally raise," Butkiewicz said, a dip that was partially due to a gap-filled bell-ringer schedule.
"If you have someone (at the kettle) ringing the bells, generally people tend to donate more than they would just walking by a kettle," she added.
Volunteers can sign up at
or call 218-879-5447. Bell ringing starts Friday, Nov. 10, at L&M in Cloquet and Nov. 18 at Super One and Walmart in Cloquet. the campaign ends Dec. 24.
