Help The Salvation Army ‘Fight For Good’ During the 2019 Red Kettle Campaign
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (Nov. 8, 2019) — The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit is kicking off its annual Red Kettle Campaign by looking to the community to Fight for Good – so the nonprofit can continue providing a wide range of initiatives and critical social services to those in need throughout the year. Supporters can Help Them Win by donating or volunteering their time this Christmas season to aid The Salvation Army reach its $8 million fundraising goal – and all funds raised will directly benefit communities throughout Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.
The Red Kettle Campaign is introducing a variety of new initiatives for 2019, including:
- Kettle Pay: Don’t have cash? No problem! Red Kettles in metro Detroit will be equipped with smart chips and QR codes, allowing supporters to scan their mobile device and donate money via Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- Official corporate bell ringing partnership: AT&T Michigan is The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit’s first corporate bell ringing partner. AT&T Michigan has pledged a $50,000 donation that will be used toward the 2019 fundraising campaign, and employees will serve as volunteer bell ringers at red kettle sites across metro Detroit as part of AT&T’s Believe Detroit initiative. President David Lewis is also serving as the nonprofit’s Corporate Chairperson for the 2019 Red Kettle Campaign.
- Big Boy partnership: This year, The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit is partnering with Big Boy Restaurants to raise money during the 2019 Red Kettle Campaign. During the Christmas season, patrons at restaurants in metro Detroit have the opportunity to “round up” their bill, giving The Salvation Army the opportunity to receive a portion of the final tab. For example, if a bill comes out to $24.49, patrons can choose to have their bill rounded up to $25, and The Salvation Army will receive 51 cents. Big Boy and The Salvation Army are also implementing the hashtag #ItTakesABigArmy for supporters to take photos/selfies at pre-determined locations throughout metro Detroit, and every time someone uploads a photo using that hashtag, Big Boy will donate a food item to The Salvation Army.
- Volunteer initiatives: Those interested in donating their time as volunteer bell ringers have several opportunities to Do The Most Good for The Salvation Army by visiting RegisterToRing.com. Individuals can sign up for two-hour bell ringing shifts that best fit their own schedule. Bell ringing runs through Tuesday, Dec. 24, excluding Thanksgiving and Sundays.
- Partnership with iHeart Media: The popular “Ring for Bling” volunteer recruitment gives volunteer bell ringers the opportunity to win one of six diamond pendant necklaces, each valued at $1,000, every time they volunteer and fulfill a two-hour bell ringing shift during the Christmas season. Six random winners will be chosen for recognition at a special volunteer recognition breakfast event on Jan. 9, 2020.
- Partnership with Beasley Media Group: WCSX is implementing a special Red Kettle edition of “Battle of the ‘Burbs,” allowing listeners across metro Detroit to win bragging rights for their side of town while giving back to the community as a volunteer red kettle bell ringer. The team that rings in the most storefront kettle hours by Christmas Eve will earn “Battle of the ‘Burbs” red kettle bragging rights. Additionally, WRIF listeners who volunteer as bell ringers during the 2019 Red Kettle Campaign have a chance at weekly drawings for Trans-Siberian Orchestra tickets, as well as a Shinola watch.
The 2019 Red Kettle Campaign begins just weeks after new data from the U.S. Census Bureau revealed that despite dropping for the third consecutive year, Detroit’s poverty rate sits at more than 33 percent, even after household incomes grew by 20 percent during that time. Meanwhile, the state of Michigan’s currently hovers around 14 percent, and the surrounding counties of Oakland, Macomb and Wayne Counties all have poverty rates of 8.7 percent, 11 percent, and 22.9 percent, respectively.
“The Salvation Army always looks to ‘Do the Most Good,’ every day of the year, to help those in southeast Michigan who need it the most, especially families and people living in poverty,” said Major Tim Meyer, general secretary and metro Detroit area commander for The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division. “Thanks to the continued donor and volunteer support of the Red Kettle Campaign, we can all work toward our goal of raising $8 million this year to provide crucial resources to communities throughout the area.”
The Salvation Army is hosting a variety of events that are open to the public throughout the Christmas season, including:
- The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit is unveiling a brand-new, sweet seasonal treat at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Royal Park Hotel. This year, brightly-lit Christmas trees fill the lobby as eyes are drawn toward the center of the room, which has been reimagined into an Enchanted Gingerbread Forest.
- The 2019 Salvation Army Red Kettle kickoff event will take place at 5 p.m. with a program beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22 at Campus Martius Park featuring the lighting of the world’s tallest red kettle and a performance by electro-pop band NuClassica.
- On Friday, Dec. 6 from 5 until 7 p.m., players, staff and alumni from the Detroit Red Wings will once again serve as bell ringers to raise money for The Salvation Army’s STRIVE floor hockey program during the annual Red Wings for Red Kettles event.
- Local print, online, television and radio personalities will once again serve as volunteer bell ringers and spread Christmas cheer at red kettles across metro Detroit during Celebrity Bell Ringer Day from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Dec. 7.
- On Saturday, Dec. 14, The Salvation Army will host the brand new Mascot Day event, which will feature mascots from local high schools, colleges and universities, businesses and The Salvation Army’s very own mascot: Captain Concern.
Details about these and other Red Kettle events can be found on salmich.org.
Everyone can help The Salvation Army provide more than meals and shelter by donating their quarters, nickels and dimes (and even gold Krugerrands!) to the hundreds of red kettles at storefronts throughout metro Detroit. Red kettle locations include:
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Online shoppers using smile.amazon.com can also donate by designating The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division as their charity of choice. The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5 percent of all eligible AmazonSmile purchases to The Salvation Army.
To make a tax-deductible contribution to The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign:
- Visit salmich.org
- Tap any red kettle to donate via Apple or Google Pay
- Donate cash in a red kettle
- Call 877-SAL-MICH
- Send a check made payable to The Salvation Army, to: 16130 Northland Dr., Southfield, MI 48075
The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle is generously supported by corporate sponsors including: AT&T Michigan, Bank of America, Big Boy Restaurants, Comerica Bank, the David W. Elliott Memorial Foundation, Aptiv, Ford Motor Company Fund, Franzese Products, Kroger, LaBelle Companies, London Chop House, Pepsi Beverages Company, Royal Park Hotel, Walmart and WB Penobscot Flowers.
About The Salvation Army
Founded by William and Catherine Booth in London, England in 1865, The Salvation Army is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to serving people in need without discrimination. This past year, The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit was involved in providing 2,493,786 meals and 573,968 nights of shelter for the homeless. The Salvation Army uses $.87 of every dollar raised to provide direct services to people in need each and every day of the year. For more information about The Salvation Army, please call 877-SAL-MICH, or visit us at salmich.org.
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