Ringing in the season of giving

Salvation Army hopes slow start to donations won’t last

The Lodi Salvation Army is urging visitors to the Lodi Post Office or local grocery stores to spare some change for a Red Kettle donation.

The Lodi group — and other locations in the San Joaquin Valley — are behind on donations this year compared to previous years, which may be due to people not feeling they are in the economic position to donate, according to Major Mark Thielenhaus of the Lodi Salvation Army

That does not mean Lodi is in trouble yet.

“We had a fantastic Kettle Kickoff. The numbers were much higher than previous years,” Thielenhaus said. That event raised $40,000 more than last year.

The Salvation Army raised a total of $130,000 in 2015 through kettle donations over more than 920 volunteer bellringing hours. As of Wednesday, 764 volunteers have already signed up this year.

It is not too late to give or volunteer, Thielenhaus said. During the last 10 days of last year’s fundraising period, the kettles brought in $50,000.

“We need to make sure we’re out there in the spirit of Christmas and give when we see kettles,” Thielenhaus said.

He is asking for more volunteers in the community to sign up for Salvation Army’s vacant two-hour, bell-ringing opportunities. Community members can now sign up to volunteer as bell ringers online at

Several churches have gotten involved, including St. Paul Lutheran Church, whose volunteers are covering positions during the week at the Lodi Post Office, or Vinewood Church, whose volunteers are staffing the kettle at the local Raley’s on Lower Sacramento Road.

For those not apt to keep change or cash, there are other ways to contribute in the season of giving, according to the Salvation Army.

These include an opportunity to do some virtual bell ringing online at redkettlereason.org and through social media. Donations are also accepted by mail and by credit card donations online at lodi.salvationarmy.org. “We have amazing individual donors, organizations, service clubs and church groups that support us with volunteer help year round and meals prepared and served at our shelter and recovery meetings,” Thielenhaus said.

Salvation Army receives non-perishable food donations at the 525 W. Lockeford St. location for the food bank and is always in need of blankets and toiletries at the Hope Harbor Shelter at 622 N. Sacramento St.

Donations all stay local and help support food distribution to more than 450 families as well as providing shelter for the community’s homeless population, giving Christmas gifts for youth in need and other community programs offered by the organization.

“It’s neighbors helping neighbors,” Thielenhaus said. “Money goes directly to helping someone in Lodi.”

For those interested in helping Salvation Army, volunteers are needed year round. For more information call 209-3695896.

NEWS-SENTINEL PHOTOGRAPHS BY BEA AHBECK Brothers Joshua Young, 11, and Andrew Young, 13, sing and watch as Elsa Bates, of Lodi, makes a donation outside the post office on School Street as Salvation Army continues its bell ringing at various Lodi locations Wednesday. Bates walked up and...

Above: Sister Kathleen Garcia, of Lodi, with the Holy Family in Fremont, makes a donation to the Salvation Army outside the post office on School Street. Left: Bell ringer Keisha Miller watches as Amy Carranza, of Burson, makes a donation outside...