How You Can Support The Salvation Army's Work This Holiday Season

Our Daily Show Interview! Salvation Army: Red Kettle Campaign!

ALTON - The Salvation Army has officially started its Red Kettle campaign to raise money for local programs.

From now until Christmas Eve, you have the opportunity to donate at the red kettles in local stores, or you can donate online. All of the money donated locally stays in Madison County to fund Salvation Army programs. Majors Sean and Cassy Grey noted the importance of helping this campaign during the holiday season so families can have year-round support.

“I think we forget that we’ve got the power to bring about lasting change in the lives of our neighbors,” said Major Cassy. “That power can be in speaking a kind word, speaking life into someone, donating at the kettle, volunteering to ring at the kettle, volunteering at a local agency in the area. We have the ability to speak life into each other and to support each other. Now more than ever, we need that.”

This year, The Salvation Army aims to raise $422,500 through the Red Kettle campaign. All of this money will go to The Salvation Army’s programs, including their free afterschool program, food pantry, hot meals, Bible study and more.

The organization is also looking for people to ring bells at the red kettles outside of stores, which encourages passersby to donate. You can sign up to ring here.

“People give to a kettle that has a person at it before they give to an unmanned kettle, so we need lots of hours,” said Major Sean. “There’s endless opportunity to give, and there’s so many ways. You can do the virtual red kettle. You can bring in a check. If you’ve got some spare change, drop it in the kettle.”

The Salvation Army also sponsors Angel Trees. Locally, they also have over 1,100 angels this year, or kids who need Christmas gifts. Community members are invited to stop by participating stores and choose a name off the tree, then buy the items on that child’s list and bring them to The Salvation Army to be distributed. For more information about the Angel Tree campaign, including how to donate locally, click here.

Majors Sean and Cassy agree that these are major goals, but they believe the community will “rock it out” and “come out in droves” to volunteer or donate. The Red Kettle campaign is The Salvation Army’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and they need these funds to continue to operate and help community members.

Major Cassy pointed out that while the need feels more pressing around Christmas time, The Salvation Army works year-round to support people.

“All the funds that come in, it’s not just paying for stuff that happens at Christmas,” she explained. “This makes it possible for us to have our doors open, to be able to provide pantry and food support for those who are facing food insecurity. This allows us to be able to offer afterschool programming for the youth in our community at no cost. This allows us to be able to wrap around our families who are struggling with utilities or with different other struggles.”

Majors Sean and Cassy thanked this year’s local Christmas Chairs, Zeke and Joyce Jabusch, for their support and fundraising efforts for The Salvation Army.

As Christmas draws nearer, Majors Sean and Cassy hope many people find it in their hearts to donate to The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign or to choose a name on the local Angel Trees. They noted that their work is not possible without the community’s support, and it’s important to help local families in need.

“It’s not a handout, but a hand-up, a hand-up to hope,” Major Cassy added. “This could be that bridge for them to make that difference, to break those cycles, to help get them from one point to another to see them then succeed. I cannot tell you how many families we’ve worked with who just fell on a hard time and just needed that support.”

For more information about The Salvation Army’s work in Madison County, including how to donate, how to volunteer, or how to receive assistance, visit their official webpage.

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