The sound of bells: Lebanon Salvation Army kicks off annual Red Kettle Campaign

The bells will be ringing around the stores again after the 2023 Lebanon Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign kicked-off in prominent locations throughout the county.

Hosting the official Red Kettle Campaign Kick-Off event Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Lebanon Farmers Market, Salvation Army Captain Marlon Rodriguez said the organization raises more than $90,000 a year to help the community.

This year’s fundraising goal is $95,000. The annual fundraising campaign allows the Salvation Army to provide crucial assistance to individuals and families in crisis year round in Lebanon County.

"We have over 15 locations," Rodriguez said. "We stand there from Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m ... The Lebanon community gets involved in this and that's what makes it special."

The tradition of the Salvation Army using red kettles to collect donations started in 1891, when Captain Joseph McFee used an iron kettle to collect donations to feed over 1,000 individuals in San Francisco. Six years later that tradition spread to the East Coast.

"Since then, we've been doing that through the different collections in Lebanon, and that's what facilitates us to be able to help the community," Rodriguez said.

The Salvation Army of Lebanon provides various social service and food distribution programs throughout the year, including Second Harvest and the National Night Out event in Lebanon. The organization also provides disaster relief efforts, and visits shut-ins at nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

"During the year, there is so much need," Rodriguez said. "People come to our offices seeking food, seeking children's supplies. Those funds go to get those supplies and food."

There are 18 volunteer groups that will be ringing at various sites throughout the season, according to Red Kettle chairman Terry Weaver. Volunteers include members of Jonestown Lions Club, the Kiwanis Clubs of Lebanon and Palmyra and the Lebanon Valley Motorcycle Club.

"One of our bell ringers dresses like Mrs. Claus," Weaver said. "People come up to her at the kettle site and have their picture taken with her. We have one gentleman who wears bells on his pants and his coat and rings for six hours at a time."

Canteen improvements

The Salvation Army of Lebanon is also looking for donations to refurbish its canteen truck, which is used for disaster relief efforts. Officials said that the canteen is more than 20 years old.

"It's actually a food truck, so we prepare meals within that," Melissa Heisler, Salvation Army of Lebanon Advisory Board chair, said. "So it has got a gas stove, a refrigerator, a generator and then there's the heating, air and electrical. So all of those types of things need to be replaced on that vehicle in order for us to do what we do."

Salvation Army organizers first shared the need to refurbish the truck back in May 2022. To replace the truck would cost around $250,000, leading members to believe it would be better to refurbish their existing truck instead.

Bob Phillips, chairman of the Francis J. Dixon Foundation, presented organizers Saturday with a check for $42,500, which is half of what the Salvation Army needs for their truck improvements. The total cost of refurbishing the truck will be 85,000.

"It's in great shape body-wise, so we just need to update the equipment inside," Heisler said.

Angel Tree Program

During this Christmas season, the Salvation Army holds its annual Angel Tree program, which provides toys and clothing to children that may not otherwise receive a gift at Christmas time.

Individuals can request a tag from the Salvation Army of Lebanon or visit a participating business to pick up a tag or shop for a specific child in need based on the requested items on the tag. The Salvation Army will then distribute those gifts to the respective families.

Local businesses participating in the Angel Tree program include the Dutch Valley Food Inc., the Lebanon School District and Hershey Medical Hospital, among others.

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The Angel Tree program and Kettle Campaign donations help over 30,000 people, according to Rodriguez.

"We cannot help our community if we do not have the means," he said. "So the community gives us that opportunity, they equip us with the means so that we can go out and help the community."

Residents wishing to donate to the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign can contact officials at 717-273-2655 or visit the organization's website at www.salvationarmylebanon.org. Anyone wishing to donate to the Canteen Refurbishment project can mail checks, made out to Salvation Army of Lebanon County, to their location at 1031 Guilford Street, Lebanon, PA 17046,

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth.

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This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Salvation Army of Lebanon Pa. kicks-off the 2023 Red Kettle Campaign