Contributed by Tina Bentley
The Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell Ringing Program is a tradition which provides you the opportunity to meet the public and support The Salvation Army in a unique way, and it is a fun way to make a difference in someone’s life here in the Mat-Su Valley. We are looking for individuals, families, church groups, school clubs, etc. to man the kettle, ring the familiar bell and wish shoppers a joyous holiday season.
The Red Kettle Campaign is one of the primary fundraising efforts of The Salvation Army. By volunteering to be a bell-ringer, you are helping to raise the much needed funds to support The Salvation Army services and programs at Christmas and throughout the year. We have five locations available here in the Valley; they include Palmer and Wasilla Carrs and Fred Meyers. The Wasilla Fred Meyers has two locations, one at each door.
If you can give at least two hours of time to ring the bell, please contact Tina at 907-795-8544, or go online at www.volunteer.usawest.org and sign up directly.
How it all began, a little history of the kettle:
In 1891, Salvation Army Captain, Joseph McFee, was troubled because so many poor individuals in San Francisco were going hungry. During the holiday season, he resolved to provide a free Christmas dinner for the destitute and poverty-stricken. He only had one major difficulty to overcome - funding the project.
As he contemplated the issue, he recollected his sailor days in Liverpool, England. He remembered how at Stage Landing, where the boats came in, there was a large, iron kettle called "Simpson's Pot" into which passers-by tossed a coin or two to help the poor.
The next day, Captain McFee placed a similar pot at the Oakland Ferry Landing at the foot of Market Street. Beside the pot, he placed a sign that read, “Keep the Pot Boiling.” He soon had the money to see that the needy people were properly fed at Christmas.
The kettle idea quickly spread from the west coast to the Boston area. In 1901, kettle contributions in New York City provided funds for the first mammoth sit-down dinner in Madison Square Garden, a custom that continued for many years. Today in the U.S., The Salvation Army assists more than 4 ½ million people during the Thanksgiving and Christmas time periods.
Captain McFee's kettle idea launched a tradition that has spread not only throughout the United States, but all across the world. Be a part of the tradition, sign up today to ring the bell and bring joy to someone in our community. Thank you for your time.
