With one week to go, Red Kettle campaign just over halfway to goal
The Salvation Army’s Western Pennsylvania Division needs a major boost to get its annual Red Kettle campaign across the finish line this year.
According to a news release, as of Thursday, Dec. 17, the division has raised $1,225,138 in the four weeks since the campaign began on Thanksgiving Day — just barely over halfway to this year’s goal of $2,303,000.
The Butler County Corps has raised $46,000 so far — just barely over half its goal of $90,000 — according to Charles DeJesus, envoy for the Butler County Corps.
“We are in exactly the same boat as the division as a whole,” DeJesus said. “We’re actually about $2,400 behind this time last year.”
The Red Kettle campaign is the largest annual fundraising initiative for the Salvation Army, with the proceeds funding the organization’s key community programs.
“This is really the only major fundraiser for all of our local locations,” said Nicole Harrell, marketing and public relations director for the Salvation Army’s Western Pennsylvania Division. “It goes to all those essential services. This really is where we get the bulk of our donations for the year.”
Officially, the Red Kettle campaign ends on Christmas Eve, after which the iconic kettles are taken off the streets. However, online donations may continue through the end of the year.
DeJesus partially blames the slower pace of donations this year on a lower amount of in-person kettles.
“I can only speak to the Butler area, but we’re not at as many locations as in the past,” DeJesus said. “Where there have been Red Kettles out, the community has been pretty generous, so we really appreciate that.”
Harrell is holding out hope that major donations will come through in the final days of the campaign.
“Traditionally, the last couple of weeks are where we get the bulk of donations from people who are out doing their holiday shopping, especially at their Giant Eagles and Walmarts and local malls and shopping centers,” Harrell said. “We’re hopeful that foot traffic at retailers will really help us, especially this weekend.”
Harrell also encourages residents to make use of virtual donation options, including QR codes printed on the kettles which point to a donation link.
“We know a lot of people don’t necessarily carry cash, so those virtual red kettles … we’re really hoping they can help us cross the finish line,” Harrell said.
