Kettle call: Annual charity drive needs volunteers, donations

The Salvation Army needs you.

The request is simple — an hour or so out of one of your busy pre-holiday days or a couple of dollars from your pocket.

And all in the name of needy families, lonely seniors and others who might not otherwise have much to be merry about this Christmas.

The Salvation Army Kettle Drive raises funds every year to help finance its Christmas programs. Some money might buy food for struggling families or a some warm clothes and a toy or two for a needy child. Other funds provide small gifts for senior citizens who are alone during the holiday season, while still others offer a little hope to someone who might have had a particularly bad year.

Giving a dollar or two — or more if you can afford it — allows this organization to share the spirit of the season with someone less fortunate. The side benefit is that giving to The Salvation Army allows you to feel good about helping someone else, while reinforcing the true meaning of the season with your family.

The Salvation Army is in need of volunteers to assist with the bell-ringing campaign and is asking local businesses and other groups to offer a bit of their time over the next couple of weeks. Divided among a group of 10-20 people, running a few hours of a bell campaign is not much of a time commitment, but that little extra help could mean that much more for the kettle drive this year. With enough volunteers, The Salvation Army does not have to hire bell-ringers — and more money ends up in the organization’s program to make Christmas wishes come true.

There is still plenty of time to be part of saving this year’s Kettle campaign. Call The Salvation Army’s local chapter and offer up your services — especially if you are one of those people who is good at persuading others to do their part.

And if you walk by a kettle this week, toss in that extra money you might have used for a fancy coffee or a lunch out. Those extra dollars could turn a blue Christmas into a reason to celebrate for a local family.

And that is certainly worth the sacrifice.

Published in Editorials on December 6, 2005 10:58 AM