Silver Bells or Silent Night for The Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Silver Bells or Silent Night for The Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign?
The iconic Red Kettles are out this week, but volunteer numbers have dropped significantly.
DANE COUNTY (November 9, 2020) – The Salvation Army’s iconic Red Kettle Campaign kicks off on Friday, November 13 with roughly 24,000 hours yet to fill for the winter season. Despite safety protocols in place at all 66 kettle stand locations around Dane County, the organization has seen a massive drop in volunteers and shifts filled.
Last year at this time, nearly 4,600 volunteer hours were scheduled compared to this year’s 1,642 hours. Filling only about a quarter of the shifts required for a successful campaign, the forecast is grim. The Salvation Army of Dane County is serving triple the number of people in emergency shelter and seeing a 155% increase in requests for services due, in part, to the pandemic.
“Our ultimate goal is to serve all families and single women who come to us in need of services this winter, to keep them safe from the cold, to provide meals and warm beds,” says Steve Heck, Director of Operations and Development. “Donations of time while ringing or to the virtual and in-person kettles make a real difference in the lives of those we serve.”
With virtual kettles, text-to-give, Season Pass Pins, and silent auction items, The Salvation Army has expanded the options for giving this year, though they are still hoping for volunteers to fill bell-ringing shifts. The campaign officially ends at 8 pm on Thursday, December 24.
HOW TO HELP:
· By Mail, send in a check:
The Salvation Army of Dane County
3030 Darbo Drive
Madison, WI 53714-1656
Write “Kettles” in memo line
· Text the word “DANE” to 24365
· Make the best gift you can in any kettle with traditional donation or Kettle Pay
· Donate to the Dane County Virtual Kettle
- View and bid on Silent Auction Items
· Sign up for a bell ringing shift at RingBellsDane.org or by calling 250-2283
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