Thanksgiving has come and gone, and a crisp air is now filled with the familiar ringing sound, one signaling The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign.
Taking place each year during the Christmas season, the campaign is the organization’s largest fundraising effort. The money raised helps fund the organization throughout the following year.
“The Red Kettle Campaign is the iconic fundraising event for the Salvation Army,” said Captain Pradeep Ramaji, corps officer for the Columbus division of the group. “We depend upon the public’s support to help our community. Last year, we raised $71,000 and we have a goal of raising $73,000 for this year.”
Money raised in Starkville and Columbus, will stay local helping fund the numerous community assistance programs the organization provides.
“The funds that we raise we use to help the community, paying their utility bills,” Ramaji said. “And also, we are helping the community through our food pantry. One year ago, we started giving out meat items. Locally, most of the food pantries are doing the nonperishable foods, but we have started doing the meat items. There is a need because of inflation and the prices have doubled. I see more people coming to The Salvation Army asking for help. So, we need support from the community to help our neighbors.”
In addition to the food pantry and bill assistance, The Salvation Army also hosts the Angel Tree Program every year at Christmas. The program allows the public to “adopt” children and purchase items from their wish lists so they can have gifts at Christmas. The program is currently underway in Columbus. The group has had about 300 kids apply, with 150 being adopted so far, Ramaji said.
However, none of this is new. The Salvation Army has been helping people for decades.
Columbus resident Sonja Malone was one of those people.
“They used to help me years ago with my kids when I didn’t have (money),” she said. “Back then, I didn’t have a job. I was a single mother. I had three kids at the time, and it was kind of hard for me, I couldn’t get a job anywhere. So, I had to depend on the Salvation Army for many years. They helped me a lot and I appreciate that.”
This year, Malone wanted to pay the generosity she received forward. She volunteered to ring a bell.
“That’s why I joined, to give back, because I have been in those shoes, I know how it is when you don’t have anything,” Malone said. ”My daughter started (ringing the bell) last year. I told her I was going to get out here with her this year because I’m not working anymore and I want to do it for the kids and make them smile. It’s been fun so far.”
While this is many people’s first crack at volunteering to ring the bell, some have made a habit of it.
Standing in front of Kroger in Columbus, children Kate and Carrington Rhett proudly ring their bells, grinning from ear to ear.
This is Kate’s third time ringing the bell.
“(I’ve enjoyed) people giving us money to give to the other people that need it,” she said. “Ringing the bell (has been my favorite part)!”
Tanisha Sharp has been at it for years as well.
“This is my third or fourth year doing it,” Sharp said. “It’s a good company to work for. It’s raising funds for the poor. The Salvation Army, they are trying to help homeless people and anybody else they can help.”
Adapting to the digital world
While everyone is familiar with the kettles and bells outside stores, this year The Salvation Army is trying something new.
“We are able to ring the bells digitally,” Ramaji said. “Every sign on the Salvation Army Kettle has a QR code. This will direct you to the link where you can donate to the Columbus branch. We call it the ‘#RedKettleChallenge.’ People are going to online shopping, they are not coming to the posts anymore, so we decided to try to interest the younger generation, or whoever wants to donate, to ring a bell. If anybody wants, they can create their own bucket and come together with their friends and all and raise the funds and the website will show how much their bucket has made.”
Anyone interested in volunteering, donating or creating a bucket can visit columbuskettle.org, give.salvationarmyalm.org, and select Columbus or Starkville, contact Ramaji at [email protected] for Columbus or call (662) 324-3304 for Starkville.
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