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Volunteers needed for Salvation Army "Red Kettle" campaign

Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 11:00 PM

By Kathy Bottorff

The Salvation Army’s “Red Kettle” campaign began in 1891 as Captain Joseph McFee sought to find a way to feed the poor in San Francisco who were going hungry. He wanted to provide a free Christmas dinner for the destitute and poverty-stricken. Remembering back to when he was in Liverpool, England, and saw an iron kettle called “Simpson’s Pot” where boat passengers tossed coins to help the poor.

The “Red Kettle” campaign, through the Salvation Army, assists more than 4.5 million people during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons.

Doug Kucera is the Marshall County Coordinator for the Salvation Army’s “Red Kettle” campaign.  He told GIANT FM WTCA that the collection period kicks off the day after Thanksgiving and continues through December 24th.   Kucera is seeking volunteers to ring the bells at the “Red Kettles” in front of Walmart and Kroger.  He prefers volunteers to work a 3-to-4-hour shift but is willing to work with someone who can only work a 2-hour shift.  Ringing typically begins between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays and noon on Sundays and continues until about 6 p.m.

Seventy cents of every dollar directly helps those in need in Marshall County. Five to seven cents of each dollar goes to the Salvation Army for administration fees and the remaining twenty-three to twenty-five cents goes to a special fund in Indianapolis for larger disasters.  Kucera said in 2019 when the floods came to Marshall County, he sought $9,000 to $10,000 from the Salvation Army to help those displaced by the flood waters.  The State of Indiana gave a 100% match, and the Marshall County Community Foundation also matched those funds bringing about $30,000 of assistance to the county.

This year the goal is to raise $15,000 to help those in need in Marshall County.

Anyone interested in ringing the Salvation Army bells for the “Red Kettle” campaign can contact Doug Kucera at Uncle Doug’s Barber Shop across from the Plymouth Fire Department on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.  You can also text Doug Kucera at 574-540-9105.

Local businesses can also seek a small kettle on their counters near the cash register.

The Salvation Army funds for assistance in Marshall County can be used to help with food, rent, gasoline, NIPSCO and REMC, and even medicine.  Kucera said he usually only gives once a year to someone, and it ranges from $100 to $200.  Funds are not directly given to the person, but a voucher is given and Kucera pays the vendor when the voucher is redeemed.      

Kucera wants to retire next year so the Salvation Army is seeking a new Marshall County Director.  Anyone interested in this VOLUNTEER position can contact Kucera at the barber shop.

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