Lighted trees and snowy weather are not the only signs of the upcoming holiday season. The red kettles, bells ringing and angel trees are all common sights and sounds brought by The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army is important all times of the year in their effort of bringing the community together, but they have the biggest impact during the holiday season.
The international Christian organization is at work in more than 130 countries across the world, all with the same goal: to help the world become a better place.
Its infamous branding of the color red comes from the iconic red kettles meant for collecting donations from people who pass by the bell-ringers who attend to them.
The first use of this now-famous concept was during 1891 in the San Francisco Bay. A Salvation Army Officer was trying to fund a community Christmas dinner and address San Francisco’s poverty and hunger issues. He stood by a bucket, ringing a bell with a sign that said “keep the pot boiling”. It was an open invitation for people to donate what money they had on them to help the less fortunate in their community.
Now, there are approximately 25,000 red kettle locations run by over 1.3 million volunteers. As of 2022, The Salvation Army helped over 4.5 million people during the holiday season and is looking to keep growing those numbers.
Jim Spelhaug, a bell ringer for The Salvation Army, expressed why he enjoys donating his time to the community. “I admire the work that Salvation Army does, and this is just a small way I can help their mission. I think it is the responsibility of any thriving community to help those who are less fortunate. To give a hand when you are able, and the kettle is a nice way (in the season of blessings, and the season of giving) to give everyone the chance to help out in a small way,” Spelhaug said.
Every dollar dropped into a red kettle helps give local families the Christmases they deserve and the yearlong support they desperately need. This help may come in the form of gifts or daily necessities.
Here in the Quad Cities, the red kettles are stationed in front of stores including Walmart, HyVee, K&K, Hobby Lobby, Dillard’s and Sam’s Club.
“Our church, Asbury United Methodist Church, has sponsored the kettle at K&K Hardware for years. Being a long time member, I do it as my duties as a member of the congregation,” said Spelhaug.
The Salvation Army also asks for donations to their Angel Trees, so they can continue to bring “Love Beyond Measure” to all families, neighbors and members of the community.
Walmart and The Salvation Army have been partners for more than 40 years. Recognizing that every child deserves to feel the joy of Christmas, The Salvation Army Angel Tree program provides new clothing and toys to more than one million children in need each year.
Senior Jenna Boekhoff and her family donate to the program each year. “We all are connected through a desire to help those who are not as privileged, and the Angel Tree provides an outlet and a means for people to help others,” Boekhoff shared.
Once a child has been accepted into the program as an Angel, anonymous donors can shop for the child’s Christmas wish list. It’s as simple as picking a tag off the Angel Tree located inside a local Walmart. Once the gifts are received, The Salvation Army will distribute them to families in need for Christmas morning.
Boekhoff notes the importance of her family’s gesture during the holiday season. “A small gesture can make the child’s holiday season worthwhile. Just providing some gifts that the kid wants allows them to experience a sense of joy that many kids have. It allows for them to have a stereotypical holiday, which doesn’t sound like it makes a difference, but it most certainly does. Some of those kids just want to feel normal, and this system lets them,” Boekhoff said.
The Salvation Army’s ultimate goal is to bring the community together beyond all measures with love and support from one another. The holiday season is an excellent time to give to those in need.
For Spelhaug, the most rewarding part of the season is the experience itself, “To me a valuable part of [ringing the bell], is just how fulfilling it is. I get as much out of it as I give, maybe even more.”
