Posts Tagged ‘Kettles’

Linda Haskins, places a donation in the Salvation Army Kettle in front of Farmfresh located at 30 Town Center Way. (Karen Hymes, Daily Press / July 25, 2009)

We’ve been hearing a lot lately about how many local Salvation Army units across the country are putting out red kettles a bit early this year for special summer fundraising efforts. The New York Times even blogged about the effort a few weeks back and NBC mentioned the campaign on the Nightly News.

As Nightly News anchor Brian Williams put it:

“While they may seem out of season, for the first time since the recession back in the ’70s, they have been forced to fan out early in 25 cities, from New York to Cleveland to Lawrence, Kansas, because they need the money for those they care for.”

While it’s not unheard of for a local community to put out kettles “off-season,” it is unusual and we’ve definitely seen more of it this year during the economic slowdown.

Now some areas have completed the campaign (for the summer anyway) and had a chance to count up the money that will go to help people in need. The public’s continued generosity, even during these difficult times, is truly impressive. In Hampton Roads (Tidewater), VA, for example, The Salvation Army raised more than $17,000 during the month-long campaign.

As always, this money will go directly back to the community to support local programs. In the Tidewater region, fundraising will support Veterans Transitional Housing program for military veterans:

“More than $2,700 of that money will go toward the Veteran Transitional Housing program run by the Virginia Peninsula Command, which represents Newport News, Hampton, Gloucester and lower York County. The program provides housing for homeless veterans, said Matthew Pochily, spokesman for the Tidewater Command, which serves Norfolk, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. He said the remainder of the money will go to programs in the Tidewater Command.”

Read more from the local Daily Press newspaper here.

Matthew Pochily of the Tidwater (Virginia) Command tells the Daily Press how their summer fundraising will benefit the Army’s efforts for the rest of the year.

Salvation Army branches throughout Hampton Roads raised nearly $17,400 during their first Christmas in July campaign last month, officials said Tuesday.

The economic downturn prompted the philanthropic organization to bring out its iconic bell ringers and red kettles, which are usually reserved for the Christmas season, during the summer to raise money.

Each branch recruited volunteers to stand in front of Farm Fresh stores on each Saturday last month to ring bells and collect donations. The money raised was to go toward a program designed by each branch.

Salvation Army branches in Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Newport News and Hampton raised $8,660 during the campaign.

More than $2,700 of that money will go toward the Veteran Transitional Housing program run by the Virginia Peninsula Command, which represents Newport News, Hampton, Gloucester and lower York County. The program provides housing for homeless veterans, said Matthew Pochily, spokesman for the Tidewater Command, which serves Norfolk, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. He said the remainder of the money will go to programs in the Tidewater Command.

Williamsburg’s branch raised about $5,300 for its Apple Tree program, which provides clothing and school supplies for underprivileged children, Pochily said.

Meanwhile, Gloucester raised a little more than $3,400 for a variety of programs, officials said.

by Tyra M. Vaughn
Daily Press Newspaper
Newport News, Virginia