Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign drawing to a close

Area Salvation Army officials say it’s the final days leading up to Christmas when they typically receive the majority of their Red Kettle Campaign funding from those shopping for presents or groceries.

Major Chris Marques calls the final days of the Red Kettle Campaign the “high stakes days.”

Marques, who serves as the Northwest Indiana Area Commander for the Salvation Army, said the last minute shoppers are generally extra generous when it comes to putting money into the red kettles set up outside stores.

“Instead of $1, we’ve gotten $100 bills,” Marques said.

The kickoff for the Red Kettle Campaign in Lake and Porter counties began Nov. 10 and will continue through Dec. 23.

This year’s Red Kettle Campaign goal for its four locations is a total of $335,000 which includes $100,000 at Porter County; $100,000 at Hammond-Munster; $75,000 at Gary-Merrillville, and $60,000 at East Chicago.

As of Dec. 9, only $137,000 of that total had been collected through the Red Kettle Campaign, Marques said.

Similarly in Porter County, goals hadn’t been met earlier this month, said Porter County Salvation Army Captain Jim Prichard.

Sixty percent or around $67,000 of the $100,000 goal had been collected, Prichard said.

“We have a lot to raise between now and next Saturday,” Prichard said last week.

Last year the Porter County Salvation Army was helped significantly in its goal when some generous donor placed a gold coin in the red kettle at the Jewel grocery store in Chesterton.

“We haven’t seen a gold coin this year,” Prichard said.

The gold coin, valued at $450, still wasn’t enough for Porter County Salvation Army to reach its goal last year of $102,000, Salvation Army officials said.

Even though Red Kettle donations are down this year, the need is still there, said Major Dale Simmons of the Salvation Army of Michigan City.

“We’ve seen an increase in need this year,” Simmons said.

Money from the Red Kettle Campaign provides food for the hungry, disaster relief, assistance for disabled people, outreach to elderly and ill people, shelter and necessities for the homeless and opportunities for the underprivileged, according to the Salvation Army website.

Only about 60 percent of the $230,000 Beyond Christmas campaign goal had been met as of last week, Simmons said.

“We’re really hoping that it will pick up,” Simmons said.

And although Northwest Indiana bell ringers are still much in demand this coming week, Simmons said Michigan City had more volunteer signups this year due to a change in where the red kettles are set up.

“It seems like this year volunteers have come out of nowhere. That’s because we did some changes by offering more indoor locations,” Simmons said.

Bell ringers are still needed in Michigan City especially during the week days.

“There are a lot of locations not manned,” Simmons said.

The Salvation Army of LaPorte this year set a $150,000 goal for its Red Kettle Campaign, said Major Katie Pinkston.

“We actually need another $40,000 in our Christmas kettles,” Pinkston said.

Pinkston is hoping that a ring off between the mayors of LaPorte and Michigan City on Wednesday, Dec. 20, may encourage shoppers to help both Salvation Army organizations meet their goals.

The Red Kettle Ring Off will match Mayor Duane Parry of Michigan City and Mayor Tom Dermody of LaPorte to see who can raise the most funds in each city, Pinkston said.

Parry, along with his staff, will man the red kettle at Al’s Supermarket on Karwick Plaza in Michigan City from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Dermody and his staff will be doing the same at Kroger in LaPorte from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Although the Red Kettle campaigns have so far fallen short, Salvation Army officials said folks have been generous when it comes to the Angel Tree toy collections for kids.

“We have our angel tree distribution next week and we have exceeded our goals,” Pinkston said.

Some 400 families registered and 750 children will receive toys and clothing through the Angel Tree campaign.

Toys for Tots was a big contributor, she said.

“It’s going to be a very merry Christmas for families,” she said.

Major Chris Marques said his agency in Northwest Indiana also had a generous amount of people donating to their toy drive.

“We’re grateful for those who have given,” Marques said.

He said the donations to the Red Kettle Campaign are what benefits the needy in the months ahead.

“The Red Kettle Campaign is not important for December but for January. The more we can raise the more we can start strong into the next year…Financial donations are what’s needed right now,” he said.

 For more information on the Red Kettle Campaign,  call 219-838-0380 or go to The Salvation Army of Northwest Indiana Facebook page.

For more information about the Michigan City Salvation Army, call 219-874-6885.

For more information about the LaPorte Salvation Army, call 219-326-5342

For more information about the Porter County Salvation Army, call 219-762-9191.

To signup to volunteer for the Red Kettle campaign, go to registertoring.com.