The Salvation Army kicks off red kettle donation season Friday in Medford
Nov. 17—People who drop money into a Salvation Army red kettle Friday at the Fred Meyer location in south Medford can triple the value of their donations.
Local businesses and The Salvation Army local advisory board members have agreed to contribute $2 for every $1 donated.
For example, a $1 donation becomes $3, and a $5 donation becomes $15, The Salvation Army said.
The tripling of donations is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at the south Fred Meyer, located at 1301 Center Drive.
The kickoff event for The Salvation Army's annual red kettle and bell-ringing fundraiser includes Harry & David chocolates while supplies last and live Hawaiian music from 10 a.m. to noon. Visits with Disney Princesses Belle, Cinderella and Anna are 2-4 p.m., and Santa will be there 4-6 p.m.
Bell-ringing season and the kickoff event are key to the success of the local Salvation Army, Maj. Randy Mulch said in a press release.
"During the months of October through December, The Salvation Army will raise over a third of the support needed for the entire year. This year, bell ringing is very important to help thousands of people who are in need throughout the year," Mulch said.
Donations support programs that include Hope House transitional housing, a meal program, food distributions, help for senior citizens and an Angel Giving Tree, The Salvation Army said.
The bell-ringing season runs Monday through Saturday from Friday's kickoff through Christmas Eve. Bell ringing to bring attention to the red donation kettles is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at various sites throughout Jackson and Josephine counties, The Salvation Army said.
Bell ringers still are needed. Volunteers and businesses can sign up for open time slots by contacting their local Salvation Army.
To volunteer or for more information about ways to help or get help, call The Salvation Army in Medford at 541-773-6965 or see jacksoncounty.salvationarmy.org/medford.
Reach The Salvation Army in Grants Pass at 541-955-1017 or see grantspass.salvationarmy.org.
In addition to The Salvation Army's local advisory board members, businesses contributing to triple Friday donations at the south Medford Fred Meyer are Harry & David, Waddell & Reed, Bill Whitson with Hunter Communications, Jackson Care Connect, Kelly's Automotive and Ken Pond with Windermere. The businesses and supporters also will be ringing bells to encourage people to make a donation into the red kettle, The Salvation Army said.
The annual Red Kettle Christmas fundraising campaign started in 1891 when a Salvation Army captain in San Francisco set up a crab pot and began collecting money for the poor at Christmas. Since then, the campaign has become one of the longest-running fundraising efforts in the world. Kettles can be seen even in Japan, Korea, Chile and throughout Europe, The Salvation Army said.
Across the United States, more than 25,000 Salvation Army volunteers ring bells to help raise money for people in need, the nonprofit organization said.
