Columbus resident Dennis Jones stands in front of the Kroger at 1829 Hwy. 45 N., and other stores like it four days a week, collecting money for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. He said he does it because the organization was there for him in his time of need.
“They helped me out a long time ago and put me up for two months before I got my own place and a job,” Jones said. “I’m just trying to pay them back.”
Jones has helped raise more than $400 this holiday season. On the whole, though, the Salvation Army has collected around $60,000, falling $13,000 behind its goal just three days before the bells stop ringing and the organization’s largest annual fundraising campaign concludes.
Columbus Salvation Army Capt. Pradeep Ramaji said collections are down, while at the same time the need for the organization’s services have risen due to the increased cost of essential goods and the economy. Compounding the problem is a shortage of bell-ringing volunteers.
“Unfortunately, inflation and rising costs have increased the appeals for our services, stretched our existing resources and reduced incoming donations,” Ramaji said. “It’s only through the support of our community that we can continue to serve our community members during their most vulnerable seasons.”
In Starkville, the story is much the same, to worse. Salvation Army Service Center manager Tatiana Burgess said her office’s collections are down by more than half of the $65,000 goal it set for the holiday season. She said the Starkville office only has around three volunteers this year and hasn’t been able to fill all of their open slots.
“We are nowhere near our goal,” Burgess said. ”Some days we only have two kettles out, and some days we have three if it’s a good day.”
Money raised in Starkville and Columbus will stay local, helping fund the numerous community assistance programs the organization provides, like those to assist people with goods and utility bills, and 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. Money from the campaign is also used to maintain the offices and help pay staff.
Burgess said donations have been gradually declining since 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“People were scared to ring the bell because they didn’t want to get sick,” she said. “They didn’t want to spread germs. They didn’t want to be around people. So we didn’t really have any people just volunteering. And then the year after that we lost our regular volunteers, so it was kind of hard to find new people on such short notice. And then gradually, we’ve been able to build it back up. Maybe next year, we’ll reach our goal.”
Ramaji has also asked that any additional volunteers who wish to assist with collections should sign up via the organization’s website or by emailing Ramaji.
“Anybody that signs up can email me and I can connect with and schedule them,” he said.
But the Red Kettle Campaign is innovating to create more ways to donate for people in need. For those who wish to donate online, they can visit the organization’s website and donate there; the Salvation Army is also encouraging people to share the website’s donation link on social media accounts to raise awareness about the red kettle campaign.
With only a few days left to donate, the Salvation Army is asking for the community’s participation and support by making a physical or online donation today of $25, $50 or $100.
“For a family on the economic edge this season, $100 can bridge the gap to keep their heat running, food on the table or even help keep them in their home,” Ramaji said.
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