Red Kettle Campaign helps those in the community
The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign, which originated in San Francisco in 1891, is the agency's biggest fundraiser and accounts for the majority of its annual budget.
This year's kettle fundraising goal is $88,000, about $3,000 more than last year's goal.
The money raised is used locally, said Captain Ed McMillian with the Salvation Army. "We help many people here with basic needs with the money raised." Examples include the food pantry and financial assistance with utilities and rent.
According to the agency, $20 can provide a toy for two children at Christmas, $50 can feed 20 people throughout the community, $100 can provide a warm safe place to sleep for a night for three people, and $250 can provide a family of four with two nights of safe shelter, nutritious food and presents under the tree.
The Salvation Army currently has about 10 volunteers manning the kettles along with a few groups that will be ringing this year on Friday And Saturdays. And more volunteers are needed.
McMillian suggest families could volunteer, and could make it a competition. Volunteers are especially need on weekdays, he added.
The two biggest locations for bell ringers are Riesbeck's and Walmart. And, for the first time, a red kettle is at Rural King this year.
The bell ringers are all unpaid volunteers.
Kettle hours are generally 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, although hours for some locations are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The kettle campaign will run through Christmas Eve.
Those interested in volunteering can contact McMillian at 740-7759.
Donations can be made through the red kettles, by sending a chech to the Salvation Army, 221 Dewey Ave., or donated online at www.give.salvationarmy.org. The online donation goal is $20,000. The Salvation Army has added QR codes to its signage to allow people to make donations with their smart phones.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Red Kettle campaign helps those in the community
