The Salvation Army is in need of community members or groups to ring the bell at the red kettles this holiday season.
The Salvation Army has a location in Knoxville that had to shut their doors in April due to a lack of funding. The international movement, church, and charitable organization has helped people all over the world for over 150 years. The organization helps the Knoxville community in several different ways including finishing rent or utility bills that are not able to be paid. A large majority of the funding for Salvation Army comes from the red kettles placed outside of local businesses during Christmas time. The Salvation Army red kettle campaign began in 1891 by Captain Joseph McFee, a Salvation Army officer who was looking for a way to cover the cost of the community Christmas meal.
The funding from the red kettles outside of Fareway and Wal-Mart in Knoxville stays right in Marion County to help out local citizens in their time of need. The funds also go to the Knoxville Police Department to help provide temporary shelter for victims of domestic violence situations. First United Methodist Church Pastor Brent Hanna said volunteering to ring the bell is an easy way to support your community.
“We are called to help our neighbor and love our neighbor so this is one way that anyone in the community can donate an hour or two to ring the bells and help our neighbor.”
Community members or organizations can call Kitty Shepherd at 641-842-6234 to volunteer for a shift of ringing the bell. Knoxville Police Chief Aaron Fuller hopes citizens can step up to support the Salvation Army so the community can take care of those struggling.
“We are seeing a lot of people struggling. We have seen a lot more people recently even in just the last two weeks have come up to ask for a voucher and we have had to turn them away because there is no funding available. It is an easy way to volunteer and it is an easy way to support your community.”
The Salvation Army assists approximately 23 Million Americans annually.