Events

People around the world will step forward to support causes they care about on Giving Tuesday

As Black Friday and Cyber Monday give way to Giving Tuesday, a day promoting global giving, The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign is underway, and the nonprofit organization is urging supporters to Love Beyond Kettles. With donations to more than 30,000 kettles nationwide and online, the iconic 131-year-old campaign is the most crucial fundraising period for The Salvation Army, annually supporting more than 23 million Americans in need.

“Giving Tuesday provides the perfect opportunity to highlight the impact donations make in helping feed, clothe and shelter those facing the challenges of poverty,” said Major Jason Pollom with The Salvation Army of Vermilion County. “With just 28 giving days left until Christmas, every donation counts.”

During the holiday season, more than 3 million families rely on The Salvation Army to provide them with a warm meal or toys for their children on Christmas Day. Donating to the red kettles also helps the Army serve thousands of local people who fall on hard times each year.

To make an impact on this instrumental day, the Red Kettle Campaign offers several methods of giving:

• Ask Amazon Alexa to donate by saying, “Alexa, donate to The Salvation Army,” then specifying the amount.
• Drop money into one of the red kettles at partner storefront locations.
• Give digitally to a local virtual kettle by visiting DanvilleRedKettle.org.
• Donate using Apple Pay, Google Pay, or even crypto currency at participating red kettle locations throughout Vermilion County.

A small donation can go a long way. Nationally, on average:

• A donation of $30 provides a night of shelter.
• Just $25 can put Christmas presents under the tree for a child in need.
• A $50 donation provides 21 meals for the hungry.

This holiday season marks the 131st Red Kettle Campaign since the program’s humble beginnings in San Francisco in 1891. The Red Kettle Campaign has grown into one of the most recognizable and important charitable campaigns in the United States, providing toys for kids, coats for the homeless and food for the hungry, as well as supporting countless social service programs year-round.

About The Salvation Army

For more than 155 years, The Salvation Army has been helping individuals and families in need overcome barriers and improve their lives. Each year, more than 30 million Americans fill the gaps left by poverty or addiction with the help of The Salvation Army through a range of social services including food for the hungry, clothing and shelter for the homeless, recovery programs for those struggling with substance abuse, relief for disaster survivors, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, and opportunities for underprivileged kids. Eighty-two cents of every dollar donated to The Salvation Army goes to providing these resources in more than 7,500 communities around the country. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.