Red kettles to come out for fundraiser / LJWorld.com

Archive for Friday, July 3, 2009

July 3, 2009

The Salvation Army is having its first Christmas in July Kettle Fundraiser.

The drive will be from noon to 8 p.m. Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. The fundraiser will be July 10 through Aug. 1 at Checkers Foods, 2300 La., and Hy-Vee Food Stores at 4000 W. Sixth St. and 3504 Clinton Parkway.

To learn more or volunteer, call Aaron Smith of The Salvation Army at 843-4188, Ext. 102 or e-mail him at aaron_smith@usc.salvationarmy .org.

Salvation Army starting new fundraiser

The Lawrence Salvation Army is trying to raise money with a balmy new fundraiser for residents needing assistance. Enlarge video

The Lawrence Salvation Army is dusting off a few red kettles and celebrating Christmas in July.

The hope is to raise money to serve a growing number of Lawrence and Douglas County residents who are in need of food and emergency assistance.

The Salvation Army is serving meals to about 125 people three times a week, and providing food through its pantry to at least 200 families a month.

“It really started picking up last summer in regards to the need. We are still seeing quite a huge increase,” said Aaron Smith, Salvation Army director of community relations. “Summertime is the time when not only our food supply but our financial supply is low because most of our money comes in at Christmas.”

The 2008 Red Kettle Christmas Campaign raised a record $103,000, nearly 13 percent of the agency’s total income for the year. Smith said 83 cents of every dollar went directly to residents’ needs.

The money provides not only food, but also funding for emergency rent and utility assistance, emergency disaster assistance, and youth and senior programs. This winter, the agency and the Toys for Tots program provided 650 children with toys.

The Salvation Army is hoping a new twist to its annual Christmas fundraising campaign will be as successful.

“This year, we just really could use some extra income to really help people,” Smith said.

Instead of ringing bells, volunteers will be boogying to Christmas-themed beach music on Fridays and Saturdays from July 10 to Aug. 1.

“Hopefully, we will have some volunteers out there wearing their Hawaiian shirts, sunglasses, shorts and flip-flops and just having fun with it,” Smith said.

The usual Christmas campaign takes place in about 20 locations, but the summer one will be scaled down to three spots: Checkers Foods, 2300 La., and Hy-Vee Food Stores at 4000 W. Sixth St. and 3504 Clinton Parkway.

The agency is seeking at least 100 volunteers to help with the drive.

“It’s a fun thing for an individual, family or group to do to make a difference for those in need in our community,” Salvation Army Capt. Wes Dalberg said. “We can also guarantee no one will get frostbite.”

To volunteer or learn more, call Smith at 843-4188, Ext. 102, or e-mail him at aaron_smith@usc.salvationarmy.org.

Discussion

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3 July 2009
at 9:19 a.m.

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canyon_wren (Anonymous) says…

The Salvation Army is a worthy group, in my estimation, but this is a poor idea—it will ultimately weaken the effectiveness of the red kettle program at Christmas.
3 July 2009
at 12:24 p.m.

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Irish (Irish Swearingen) says…

The homeless and the working poor need help twelve months a year, not just at Thanksgiving or Christmas time.
We need to take a hard look at the reality, even though the volunteer are very needed, only professionals can ease and solve these entrenched problems.
4 July 2009
at 12:23 a.m.

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WHY (Anonymous) says…

Salvation Army is just a fancy way for homeless people to beg for change. If you wouldn't hand it to a bum don't give it to them.