Salvation Army red kettle donations begin

Nov. 17—Stillwater's Salvation Army board members hosted a Kettle Kickoff at the downtown location of Simmons Bank on Thursday. The kickoff marked the start of this world-renowned holiday tradition in Stillwater, in which volunteers set up the Salvation Army red kettle and ring bells to collect donations for the nearest Salvation Army center.

Lieutenant Risa Robinson, Pastor and Commanding Officer for the Stillwater Salvation Army, said the initial start of the red kettle donations will be Nov. 17 and will end on Dec. 23.

Volunteers can sign up to ring at 11 different locations this year, including all three Walmart's, Homeland, Hobby Lobby and many more.

For those who want to volunteer to ring for red kettle donations, sign ups can be found at registertoring.com. Once in the portal, volunteers can sign up for a two-hour timeframe at any of the available locations. Salvation Army board members will meet the volunteers at the location to set up to ring, and then they will arrive to collect the donations at the end of the volunteers shift.

"The funding that we get, the more volunteers that we get, that is less money that we spend on having to pay somebody," Robinson said. "That is more money into helping those in our community that need the assistance — whether that is food assistance, rental assistance, utility assistance or, in special circumstances, we can do different things depending on what that need is for that family."

All monetary donations placed into the red kettle stay within the community, in which the Stillwater Salvation Army serves both Payne and Noble counties. This year, the goal is to raise $80,000 for the Salvation Army of Stillwater — an increased goal from previous years.

To assist in reaching this goal for the Stillwater Salvation Army, board members decided to initiate the Battle of the Banks. Battle of the Banks is a friendly competition that encourages the community to donate to the Salvation Army red kettles, all while fulfilling the need for ringing volunteers.

Alex Penny, board chair of the Salvation Army in Stillwater, said this is the third year of the Battle of the Banks competition. The competition takes place Dec. 4-8, and the banks are able to choose whatever location suits them best.

"Banks basically sign up for what location they want — Walmart, Hobby Lobby — and then they'll go out there and typically take about two hour shifts," Penny said. " ... Once they get out there, they're just out there for an hour or two hours greeting people, telling people hi, representing their banks or or their financial institution."

Banks and credit unions alike are able to enter the competition, including Oklahoma Community Credit Union, Arvest and RCB Bank — who have all competed in Battle of the Banks since the first year.

"Some of these places have been doing it all three years, so they've gotten kind of an idea of 'I feel comfortable at Hobby Lobby, Hobby Lobby seems to be a popular one. I prefer Walmart grocery,'" Penny said. " ... Little bit of (strategy) going into it now that we're getting into the third year."

Each bank will also have a counter kettle that will sit in the lobby of their specific bank. That way, customers who may have missed the day their bank rang can still donate to help their bank win.

The bank that collects the most money, wins the Salvation Army Battle of the Banks trophy.

"I think (the red kettle) is a huge segue for people to get out, spend a little bit of time together," Penny said. " ... It's a good way for people to have dedicated time together, when you're out there for two hours or an hour and a half, it's just you and the other person you're with. It is good for a family to do, just to enjoy, know that you are helping support a good cause and helping other people that are in need."

History of the Red Kettle

The red kettle was started in 1891 by Joseph McFee, a Salvation Army Captain in San Francisco, California.

The red kettle was resolved by a free Christmas dinner to the areas poor. But, McFee didn't know how he would pay for the food.

From his days as a sailor in Liverpool, England, McFee remembered a large pot displayed on a stage, called Simpson's Pot, where a passerby would toss charitable donations. The captain presented his idea to the city authorities and received permission to place a similar pot at the Oakland Ferry Landing at the foot of San Francisco's market street.

The pot drew the attention of people going to and from the ferry boats, and an urn in the ferry boat waiting room also attracted donations. Captain Joseph McFee launched a tradition that spread not only throughout the United States, but also around the world.

Today, McFee's legacy helps families in need, providing them with grocery checks so that they can buy and prepare their own dinners at home. The homeless and poor are still invited to share holiday dinners and festivities at hundreds of Salvation Army centers.