Salvation Army’s 2024 Red Kettle Campaign Begins Ringing This Week
Article presented by Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau …
To use a line from a familiar Christmas song, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” The sounds of ringing bells during the shopping season are close by.
Litter Media recently hosted Captain Travis Payne and Youth Ministry Coordinator Ricky Cook of the Chillicothe Salvation Army to discuss their upcoming Red Kettle Campaign.
“Red Kettles is the busiest time of year for Salvation Army officers”, said Captain Payne. “It’s also our largest fundraising effort. So, if you ever go out to your retail stores and you see the stand with the person ringing the bell next to them, they’ve got the red apron on, that is how we bring in funds to operate our core facility.”
Payne says the goal for the campaign is $50,000 which will help the meet their needs in serving the community throughout 2025. “The monies raised go to serving and operating your local Salvation Army facility. They’re processed here, they go into the local bank here and they’re used to run our facility.” Payne adds there’s a portion that goes to helping run the Salvation Army youth programs provided locally as well as their social service efforts to assist with utilities and rental assistance.
“We do a laundry service, we do a shower program where people can come in and take showers during the day… We’ve gotta be able, as a non-profit, have to pay those bills to keep the water on. Kettles, really goes a long way into helping us do that.”
The Chillicothe Salvation Army us located at 171 East 4th Street where they not only hold worship services, but also provide domestic violence Services and emergency financial assistance. They welcome the community to Sunday School at 9:45am followed by their Holiness Meetings at 10:45am on Sundays.
The Red Kettle Campaign has a standing national agreement with Walmart, Sam’s Club and Kroger Stores which begin next week, but Payne says the local Walmarts are granting them an extra week for an early start beginning November 16th, utilizing the Chillicothe, Circleville and Washington Court House Walmart locations. The remaining locations begin November 23rd. Something new for this campaign, each stand will have a scannable QR Code allowing those who wish to make cashless donations.
Those who are ringing the bells may be volunteers from local civic groups, but many are paid seasonal workers. “For some people, it’s a great seasonal job for them” said Payne. “We’ve had kettle workers who say they want to work to have some extra money to set aside for Christmas gifts. We understand we’re a non-profit, so we can’t really afford to be competitive with what McDonald’s offers to pay. But, it’s a little something that can get you through this Christmas season… a paycheck you can go out and do something good and fulfilling.”
Payne says the groups who want to volunteer tend to bring in more money for the Salvation Army. “They’re enthusiastic, they’re lively, they come out in big groups and when there’s a child at the stand ringing the bell, that really just tugs on the heart strings. Certain stores will let us come out and play some music.” For those interested in helping in the campaign, email Captain Payne at travis.payne@use.salvationarmy.org or by Facebook Messenger @SAChillicothe or by calling the local office 740-774-2760.
