Kettle donations: Gifts for kids
Ever wonder how The Salvation Army uses your red kettle donations?
If so, you’re not alone. For 125 years, people have been dropping money into red kettles blissfully unaware of the drastic amounts of good they are accomplishing.
“Kettle Donations” is an eight-part series that provides answers. We’ll explore a new Salvation Army program every week until Christmas. In the end, you’ll understand precisely how your kettle donations change lives during the Christmas season and year-round.
Your red kettle donations become presents for children who would otherwise receive little or nothing on Christmas morning.
The Salvation Army gives presents to thousands of kids across Minnesota and North Dakota, last year distributing nearly 190,000 toys.
Kettle donations allow The Salvation Army to buy many of the toys at a bulk discount. These toys are grouped with donated toys and placed on shelves at Salvation Army toy shops, where volunteers help parents pick out games, dolls, sports equipment, and other presents they want to give their kids.
“Toy shops operate much like a department store, allowing consideration for each child’s unique interests,” said Major Jeff Strickler, Twin Cities Salvation Army Commander.
In the Twin Cities alone, The Salvation Army is expected to provide toys to more than 15,000 children this Christmas through its four metro area toy shops.
Last year, toys shops were a godsend to Roseville, Minn. resident Lakeshia (pictured below) and her three kids. She had been recently laid off from her job managing a beauty supply company and did not have enough money to buy presents for her children.
“This is a big help,” she said, as a Salvation Army volunteer escorted her past tables and tables of toys.
2015 kettle season
This year’s kettle season ends this Thursday, on Christmas Eve.
There are about 900 kettle locations throughout Minnesota and North Dakota. Please give a little something each time you pass by one, knowing your gift will allow The Salvation Army to provide Christmas presents for children of low-income families.
If you’d like to take your kettle experience to the next level, sign up to be a bell ringer. In just two hours you’ll raise an average of $60 – enough money for The Salvation Army to provide quality toys to several children.