Kettle Drive off to slow start; donations needed

With Christmas fast approaching, The Salvation Army of Hot Springs officials are concerned their annual Red Kettle Campaign seems to be off to a slow start so far.

“The Red Kettle Campaign is very slow this year,” Captain Bradley Hargis said in a news release. “Currently we have raised $63,000 and only have 10 kettle days left. Our goal is $115,000 this season and we need to make our goal to continue offering emergency meals, disaster services, and social services.

“We need your help in making this year a success.”

The Red Kettle Campaign is a major fundraising event that raises year-round support for programs and services. Donations to the Red Kettles stay local, impacting the lives of people in the communities in which they were received, the release said.

“Thanks to the support of donors and corporate partners, the money raised will help The Salvation Army provide food, youth services, and emergency social services to people who come to us in crisis, often at the very worst times of their life,” Hargis said.

With fewer and fewer people carrying cash, The Salvation Army now offers several cashless ways to donate. Providing a new way to engage family and friends, individuals can now raise funds for The Salvation Army in a creative way by visiting http://www. FundraiseForGood.org.

“There are endless ways to start a new fundraising tradition — host a holiday party, open a hot chocolate stand or organize a charity walk to reach your fundraising goal,” the release said.

Since its beginning in 1891, when a Salvation Army Captain used a crab pot to collect funds in San Francisco, the Red Kettle Campaign has grown into one of the most recognizable and important charitable campaigns in the United States, the release said.

Every volunteer hour of bell-ringing helps put food on the table for

13 people, the release said. Anyone interested in signing up to ring a bell or who would like more information about The Salvation Army, can call

501-623-1628, email at Bradley.hargis@uss.salvationarmy.org or visit the organization at 115 Crescent Ave.

The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen DONATIONS NEEDED: Keith Patton, right, mans a Salvation Army kettle outside Hobby Lobby on Central Avenue Friday as part of the organization’s annual Red Kettle Campaign to raise funds for its programs and services. Donations have been slow this season and only a few days remain in the campaign, Captain Bradley Hargis said this week.