The Salvation Army’s 127th Red Kettle Campaign kicks off Friday, Nov. 16 at the Salvation Army’s gym. Starting at 11 a.m., community members are invited to a chili express lunch. The lunch runs from until 1 p.m. with Lt. Colonels Charles and Shirley White discussing the Salvation Army’s outreach at noon.
A lunch consisting of chili, a hot dog, a dessert, chips and a drink will be available for a five-dollar donation, and volunteers will be taking calls for lunch deliveries. Those interested in purchasing a lunch can call prior to Friday or the day of and volunteers will deliver to business.
Starting Friday, red kettles will be at all 17 locations throughout the community. During the week, not all locations are available daily, but all locations are staffed Thursdays through Saturdays leading up to Christmas. The Salvation Army hires eight bell ringers to cover the kettles, but the organization depends more on community volunteers.
“We like to have volunteers because then 100 percent of the money goes back to the community,” said Captain Aaron M. Abram, Corps Officer at the Owensboro Salvation Army.
#OneDayOwensboro, when community businesses and individuals volunteer to cover all of the shifts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is any day during the ringing season — Monday through Saturday from Nov. 23 through Dec. 24.
“The idea is to give one day of your time as a volunteer bellringer,” said Abram. “When people get out and do it, they see the difference it makes.”
Abram said the Salvation Army saw a very marked increase in 2017 for volunteerism; however, several agencies volunteer each year and employees of those agencies enjoy the tradition.
Both Greenwell Chisholm and Atmos have employees that sit on the Salvation Army board and they are involved with the campaign. Chamber of Young Professionals have also “bought into” volunteerism and “really put their heart into it,” Abram said.
Due to restrictions set by some retailers, this year’s campaign cannot start in front of some specific retail stores until the Friday after Thanksgiving — Black Friday.
The Red Kettle Campaign began in 1891, and today assists more than 4.5 million people during the Thanksgiving and Christmas time periods, according to the Salvation Army. Locally, 5,131 families were assisted last year at Christmas and the contributions reached another 3,100 families through social service — food, clothing, electric, rent — throughout the year.
The Salvation Army is located at 215 Ewing Road. To place an order for lunch, or to volunteer as a bell ringer for the red kettle campaign, the community is encouraged to call 270-685-5576.
