The Salvation Army of Washtenaw County (TSA-WC) will kick off its annual Red Kettle Campaign with an event beginning at noon on Friday, Nov. 20 inside Briarwood Mall. A giant red kettle measuring 6 feet tall and 6ft around will be set up in the Celebration Center next to the play area in the JCPenney court.
The Red Kettle Campaign is going high tech this year with the addition of credit card machines at three kettles in Briarwood Mall and one kettle at Sam's Club in Ypsilanti. TSA-WC is the first corps in the state of Michigan, as well as The Salvation Army's Central Territory, to use credit card machines at its kettles.
"People who don't tend to carry cash now have a convenient and safe way to donate to our Red Kettle Campaign," said Washtenaw County Coordinator Major John Williams. "The machines don't hold the credit card data - the data is transmitted through a secure cellular connection."
TSA-WC's goal is to raise $300,000 during this year's Red Kettle Campaign to provide community services to those in need in 2010. TSA-WC has seen a 30 percent increase in assistance requests this year from people who are newly unemployed.
"The Red Kettle Campaign is an important fundraiser for The Salvation Army because the money raised helps us provide essential services year round to those in need in Washtenaw County," said Major Williams. "We want to attach more meaning to the donations people make to the campaign by helping them understand that those dollars translate into warmth, food, shelter and joy for those who most need our help."
Bell ringers will collect donations at 35 red kettles throughout Washtenaw County from Nov. 20 through Dec. 24 (excluding Thanksgiving and Sundays). Volunteer bell ringers are an essential part of the success of the Red Kettle Campaign. Visit www.sawashtenaw.org for a complete list of bell ringing locations and to sign up for volunteer shifts.
TSA-WC uses an average of $.83 of every dollar donated to provide a food pantry, soup kitchen, clothing, a family shelter, transitional housing and counseling for veterans, character building for youth, camp programs, emergency and disaster relief, utility assistance and eviction prevention.
You can become a fan of TSA-WC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@sawashtenaw).