SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) — The familiar sound of ringing bells has returned this holiday season. The Salvation Army and their kettles are accepting donations, both physically and electronically in front of many Central New York locations.
The Red Kettle campaign of the Salvation Army is a holiday staple. While the organization reaches nations across the globe, the efforts of the Salvation Army Syracuse Area Services impacts the local community and those who are less fortunate.
Salvation Army Director of County Operations, Major Charles Roberts, believes that the volunteer bell ringers are the heart behind the goodness.
“We give people an opportunity to connect to our mission and a lot of folks, when they connect to our mission, they want to stick around. Because they see the good that happens for people.”
The Red Kettle campaign supports over 30 programs and 35,000 people in the Syracuse area. While it is easy to forget where the money goes when walking past a bell ringer at locations like Tops or Walmart, the Salvation Army assures the impacts of the donations are within the Central New York region.
“The money goes 100 percent local. The money goes to support those programs. Contract dollars are limited, so the unrestricted dollars from the Red Kettle so to keep those programs afloat,” says Major Roberts.
One of the large kettles is located in Destiny USA, where volunteers often sign up to ring. Destiny USA receives increased foot traffic in the later months of the year due to holiday shopping, a perfect place for the kettle to be filled.
“I do have a three-year-old daughter and I do think it’s very important to teach her to give back to the community and help the kids out that need help and give the love,” said Tiffany Shuler, after posing for a picture with her young daughter in their volunteer aprons at the Destiny USA kettle.
This year, the donation paces have yet to pick up. The campaign only lasts from early November to Christmas Eve, leaving a short window for the large donation goal of $180,000.
“We’re trying to get 1,000 volunteers and we have about 400. So this is crunch time for us,” says Major Roberts.
But with his faith, Major Roberts believes in the goal of the organization.
While ringing bells bring holiday spirit in any way they are heard, the Salvation Army is aware the holidays aren’t magical for everyone in Central New York and the Red Kettle is one way to help.
“This is our banner time of the year. People see the Red Kettles and think of Christmas, they think of the holidays. We think of how for some people, this isn’t the most wonderful time of the year,” says Major Roberts.
The Red Kettles are not the only efforts of the Salvation Army this season. The Salvation Army will be hosting toy drives and food drives throughout the next few weeks as well as the Christmas Bureau event to distribute gifts and food to nearly 10,000 people on December 20.
Some Red Kettle locations include contactless payment donation opportunities with a tap of a smartphone, along with cash.
To become a bell ringer, visit https://www.registertoring.com/default.aspx.
