Community Urged To Answer the Bell as Salvation Army Kicks Off Red Kettle Campaign
Emma Delk Trending
TRIADELPHIA -- The ringing of bells outside of local businesses that signals the beginning of holiday giving can now be heard, with the Salvation Army kicking off its red kettle campaign over the weekend.
Volunteers were ready with bells in hand on Saturday morning to begin collecting donations to fund their holiday giving season and beyond during the Kettle Kickoff Celebration at Cabela's at The Highlands.
"The kettle season helps us support our Christmas and Thanksgiving giving, which we will take care of 1,100 people for those holidays this year," explained Corps Officer Lt. John Lawrence.
"We're also taking care of about 500 children in our agency program, so the money raised during this time of the year will help us later into the summer months, when we don't have as much volunteer time again."
Dropping a few coins or dollars into a kettle this year will reach out to those in need "in many ways," said Lawrence, from utilities and rent assistance to funding their food pantry in Moundsville. With the price tag on essentials like groceries "constantly seeing increases," he stressed the importance of the kettle season.
"Last year, we spent around $12,000 on food for just Christmas and Thanksgiving," added Lawrence. "This year, we're at $50,000 because of the rising price of groceries, so what we raise here helps ensure we have the money to buy those essentials for the holiday seasons."
To hit the goal of $100,000 in donations collected across Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel and Tyler counties, all hands are on deck on the bell-ringing front. With a goal of reaching 100 individuals or organizations volunteering this season, the Salvation Army is already "about 70% there," according to Lawrence.
To reach that number of volunteers is a community effort, with local organizations such as the Lions Club and Rotary Club stepping up alongside police departments, fire departments and EMS crews across the valley.
"We have an increase from last year of 290 total volunteer hours to 604 total volunteer hours this year, so it's truly a blessing," said Lawrence. "The more volunteers that help here, the more people we reach."
Another way volunteer and donation goals will be hit is through the assistance of Salvation Army Board Member and Ohio County Schools Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones, who will serve as the liaison between the Salvation Army and the school district. Soon, Wheeling Park's football team, the Kiwanis Club and other school groups will be out ringing as well.
"I just started this year on this board, and I'm really happy they asked me to serve," said Jones, who will take a shift ringing next week with former West Virginia House of Delegates member Erikka Storch. "I'm just going to try to be that link between the Salvation Army in the school district to try to get as many people as we can to help."
To have notable faces and organizations in the community stepping up to help is another goal for the Salvation Army, who appointed Dr. Ricardo Zambito as this year's Red Kettle Christmas Chair. Zambito will serve as the voice of this year's kettle season, and Lawrence was already thrilled by the efforts Zambito had made for the drive.
"He's actually put a kettle in his office for patients to be able to contribute, and then he will match whatever they donate," explained Lawrence. "He really challenges the areas' doctors and dentists to match him and what he's doing."
Getting community members involved allows the Salvation Army to "give a face to the mission," noted Salvation Army Community Relations Officer Nathan Blake. He described the organization as a "conduit for the community" to drive donations and volunteering in the area.
"Every time we asked for something from the community, they respond," added Blake. "The jump we've seen this year in volunteers is not from anything special that we have done other than the mission that we put forward, it's just been a great community response."
To reach their hefty goal of $100,000 total donations, the Salvation Army will be present ringing Monday through Saturday until Dec. 23. Lawrence, who was accompanied on his shift by one of his triplets, said he sees volunteering as an opportunity to get out into the community and meet their neighbors on top of spreading the organization's message.
"Whenever someone puts a dollar in that kettle, it reaches out to thousands of members of the community," said Lawrence. "Every dollar is helping your neighbor."