A Community Effort
When a community comes together, incredible things can happen. This was the lesson learned over the holidays in Tipton County, where The Salvation Army found creative ways to get more of this close-knit community involved in its annual Red Kettle Campaign.
The fall fundraising campaign raises the majority of the funds used by the county's Service Extension Unit to provide emergency assistance and other ministries to local residents throughout the year. With just one business hosting a Red Kettle last fall, Salvation Army volunteers Rhonda Reynolds and Holly McGuire knew they had to get the word out and get more people involved.
“Being more public has been huge for us this year,” Holly explained. “When people see The Salvation Army doing things within the community, then it makes people want to give back more.”
She and Rhonda started a Facebook page to help recruit volunteer bell ringers and communicate better with those who may be in need of assistance. They also coordinated with the local high school to create a special event where cheerleaders could use Red Kettles to collect donations from fans during halftime at a home basketball game. The Red Kettle was also featured at a local theatre production of “Elf”, which helped to both raise funds and to recruit volunteers to ring the bell at the local Needler’s grocery store.
As more of the community learned of The Salvation Army’s work within the county, new people stepped up to ring the bell for the first time. Every day, volunteers would greet shoppers at Needler's, offering a smile and a “Merry Christmas!” to their friends and neighbors. Holly and Rhonda signed up entire families, a costumed “Mrs. Claus”, and even the Tipton County Pork Festival’s court of princesses and queens. The response was incredible and helped The Salvation Army raise 161% of its Red Kettle goal for Tipton County.
“Last year we were able to use Red Kettle funds to help people pay bills and rent,” said Holly. “We also had enough donations to help out in special ways, like buying pizza for the Boys and Girls Club kids in the summer and purchasing fresh produce for the food pantry.” It's her hope that this year’s Red Kettle donations will go even farther to help more Tipton County residents in their time of need.
Rhonda shared that one first-time volunteer was a young woman who had been on the receiving end of The Salvation Army’s assistance in the past. While she couldn’t put much in the kettle, she knew that her time could make a big difference.
“She sat at the kettle the entire time with tears in her eyes,” Rhonda recalled. “She felt so good about giving her time and seeing all the individuals that were giving.”
With 2024 well underway, Rhonda and Holly are grateful for the support they received this fall and how the community rallied behind their fundraising efforts. In the months ahead, that support will help to keep the heat on and a roof over the heads of Tipton County’s most vulnerable. Thank you to all the volunteers who made their local Red Kettle Campaign a success this year!