Salvation Army's fundraising campaign off to a solid start
While the closing of both Kmart and Friedman’s in Butler have affected the Salvation Army’s local Christmas campaign, the bell ringers are off to a good start.
Valerie Hazeldine, who shares commanding officer duties with her husband, Daniel, said the Salvation Army in Butler has set a goal of raising $100,000 by Christmas Eve, through their familiar Red Kettle campaign.
The goal could be hindered by the closing of the two businesses, but Rural King at the Clearview Mall in Center Township has agreed to allow a kettle and its accompanying bell-ringing volunteer at the store’s entrance.
“The loss of Kmart and Friedman’s has eaten into the number of stores we have to stand at considerably,” Hazeldine said. “We’re lucky we got Rural King.”
She said last year’s goal of $100,000 was exceeded by about $150.
“We were very happy with that,” Hazeldine said.
Another problem faced by the Salvation Army in this year’s campaign is a shortage of ringers to staff the kettles.
Hazeldine said about six volunteers are available now. But many groups like Rotary, schools or businesses volunteer on the weekend.
She said some ringers are paid minimum wage.
“We try to keep those to a minimum because obviously it eats into the donations,” Hazeldine said.
She said ringers staff the kettles from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at various sites around the county. The ringers get breaks to warm up or use the bathroom during their shifts.
A full report appears in the Butler Eagle.
