Salvation Army Prays for Burst of Giving in Week Before Christmas
Major Nelson De LaVergne, Corps Officer
The Salvation Army of Waukesha County
Phone: 262-547-7367, ext. 222
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Salvation Army Prays for Burst of Giving in Week Before Christmas
Red Kettle volunteers sought for twenty-five key locations on Saturday, December 22nd
(Waukesha) . . . With the largest giving days for Red Kettles just before Christmas, The Salvation Army of Waukesha County is asking “for a burst of generosity” at its nearly fifty Red Kettle locations across Waukesha County in the remaining days before Christmas.
The 501c(3) charity, now in its 125th year of service locally, is also making a special appeal for volunteers to ring the bell at twenty-five key locations on Saturday, December 22nd, as it also celebrates receipt of this year’s first solid gold Kruggerand coin, valued at roughly $1,200.
“These last hours before Christmas can sometimes produce charitable receipts of $25,000 to $30,000 each day if we have active and friendly ringers at our Red Kettle locations,” explained Major Nelson De La Vergne, Waukesha County Corps officer.
“That’s why we’re making a special plea for men, women, families, civic groups, schools, businesses and churches to go online and adopt one or two Red Kettles this last week, then fill 2-hour shifts both this Saturday—a larger shopping day than Black Friday—and, on our final ringing day, Christmas Eve day between 8am-4pm,” explained De La Vergne.
The website is <WaukeshaSalvationArmy.org> or, volunteers may sign-up by calling coordinator, Kate Meyer, at 262-547-7367, x231.
The Corp’s goal for the combined Red Kettle and Christmas mail appeal is $800,000—the same amount as last year. The Red Kettle Christmas drive is its largest fundraiser and accounts for roughly half of the Waukesha Corp’s annual budget.
“The spirit of Christmas is a very real thing,” said De La Vergne. “We have received our first solid gold Kruggerand, which we recently discovered in a Red Kettle while evening counters were tallying the day’s receipts.”
“That literally means that some family or individual made a single gift of $1,200. It’s always an exciting blessing to receive such a generous gift, and we’re very thankful to the anonymous donor,” he said.
The Red Kettle contributions stay in Waukesha County to operate programs and services that help the hungry, the homeless, and others in-need. The county-based charity’s roughly $1.6-million budget includes:
- Operating the largest shelter for homeless men in Waukesha County;
- Operating a busy food pantry;
- Providing free hot meals for hundreds each week in its Waukesha dining hall;
- Producing hundreds of sack lunches for hungry children each summer day;
- Running a popular Summer Day Camp program for children; and much more.
The Salvation Army of Waukesha was founded locally in 1894, and will celebrate its 125th local anniversary in April of 2019. Its headquarters is located in a donor-funded three-story building at 445 Madison Street (between Walgreen’s and Waukesha Memorial Hospital-ProHealth Care).
###
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. The Salvation Army was founded in London, England in 1865.