Salvation Army Hopes To ‘Rescue Christmas’
September 15, 2020 at 2:12 a.m.
By Amanda [email protected]
For the first time in 130 years, The Salvation Army is starting its annual holiday fundraising campaign early across the country in order to rescue Christmas. The funds they raise through their red kettles are at risk this year due to COVID-19 while requests for the services are at an all-time high.
Ken Locke, envoy for the Warsaw Salvation Army, said lower foot traffic to businesses and even the new rules of store entryways will affect their kettle collections.
“For instance, like Walmart, there’s only one entrance that’s open so we’ll have one bell ringer but not at both doors,” Locke said. “And then, obviously, we want the volunteers to be safe as they bell ring.”
Locke is hoping that the smaller counter kettles will still be used, as he hopes most of those businesses will still be open by then as they suffer through the pandemic financially.
According to The Salvation Army Indiana Division, based on the increase in services already provided in response to the pandemic, they could serve up to 155% more people in 2020 with Christmas assistance, including putting food on the table, paying bills, providing shelter and helping place gifts under the tree.
Across the Indiana Division, 68,000 people were served last Christmas, and if the same level of increased requests for service come in, that would mean 105,000 people would need The Salvation Army’s help this holiday season.
At the same time, due to the closing of retail stores, consumers carrying less cash and coins, and the decline in foot traffic, The Salvation Army could see up to a 50% decrease in funds raised nationally through the red kettles. To put this in perspective, last year $126 million was raised nationally through 30,000 red kettles; $2.7 million was raised in red kettles across Indiana.
Locke said last year $60,000 was raised in Kosciusko County through bell ringing.
“It’s our biggest fundraiser,” Locke said. “The money from the kettles helps to fund our Christmas outreach and also helps to fund the activities the rest of the year, like helping with the food pantry and all of those other needs we have.”
Those bells usually start ringing Nov. 28 and go through Christmas Eve. But this year, The Salvation Army is trying to get on people’s radars to donate starting now.
To sign up to be a bell ringer, visit www.registertoring.com. Anyone – a business or private individual – may also contact Locke at The Salvation Army at 574-267-5361 to set up a virtual red kettle on their website or social media account.
Other ways to donate include digitally using Apple Pay or Good Pay at any red kettle in Indiana; asking Amazon Alexa to donate by saying, “Alexa, donate to The Salvation Army,” then specifying the amount; give any amount by texting HOOSIER to 24365; or adopting angels through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.
To donate or learn more, visit www.SalvationArmyIndiana.org/Rescue-Christmas.
“The need is still out there. The need is greater this year,” Locke said. “We really appreciate the county’s support through COVID, but we’re raising awareness now, and we don’t know what it’s going to look like by Christmastime. That’s why they’re doing Rescue Christmas.”
For the first time in 130 years, The Salvation Army is starting its annual holiday fundraising campaign early across the country in order to rescue Christmas. The funds they raise through their red kettles are at risk this year due to COVID-19 while requests for the services are at an all-time high.
Ken Locke, envoy for the Warsaw Salvation Army, said lower foot traffic to businesses and even the new rules of store entryways will affect their kettle collections.
“For instance, like Walmart, there’s only one entrance that’s open so we’ll have one bell ringer but not at both doors,” Locke said. “And then, obviously, we want the volunteers to be safe as they bell ring.”
Locke is hoping that the smaller counter kettles will still be used, as he hopes most of those businesses will still be open by then as they suffer through the pandemic financially.
According to The Salvation Army Indiana Division, based on the increase in services already provided in response to the pandemic, they could serve up to 155% more people in 2020 with Christmas assistance, including putting food on the table, paying bills, providing shelter and helping place gifts under the tree.
Across the Indiana Division, 68,000 people were served last Christmas, and if the same level of increased requests for service come in, that would mean 105,000 people would need The Salvation Army’s help this holiday season.
At the same time, due to the closing of retail stores, consumers carrying less cash and coins, and the decline in foot traffic, The Salvation Army could see up to a 50% decrease in funds raised nationally through the red kettles. To put this in perspective, last year $126 million was raised nationally through 30,000 red kettles; $2.7 million was raised in red kettles across Indiana.
Locke said last year $60,000 was raised in Kosciusko County through bell ringing.
“It’s our biggest fundraiser,” Locke said. “The money from the kettles helps to fund our Christmas outreach and also helps to fund the activities the rest of the year, like helping with the food pantry and all of those other needs we have.”
Those bells usually start ringing Nov. 28 and go through Christmas Eve. But this year, The Salvation Army is trying to get on people’s radars to donate starting now.
To sign up to be a bell ringer, visit www.registertoring.com. Anyone – a business or private individual – may also contact Locke at The Salvation Army at 574-267-5361 to set up a virtual red kettle on their website or social media account.
Other ways to donate include digitally using Apple Pay or Good Pay at any red kettle in Indiana; asking Amazon Alexa to donate by saying, “Alexa, donate to The Salvation Army,” then specifying the amount; give any amount by texting HOOSIER to 24365; or adopting angels through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.
To donate or learn more, visit www.SalvationArmyIndiana.org/Rescue-Christmas.
“The need is still out there. The need is greater this year,” Locke said. “We really appreciate the county’s support through COVID, but we’re raising awareness now, and we don’t know what it’s going to look like by Christmastime. That’s why they’re doing Rescue Christmas.”
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