HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Salvation Army kicked off the Christmas season with the start of the annual Red Kettle Campaign. Major Paul James and a small group began the annual season of giving in front of the Sleep Shoppe Monday afternoon.
The pandemic and the financial hardship it has caused has created an unprecedented need in the community this Christmas season.
According to James, the Salvation Army gave assistance to 807 families and provided gifts to over 600 children in 2019. In the first two weeks of the sign up period this year, more than 600 families and 700 children are already on the sign up list. James says that list keeps growing each day and the phone has not stopped ringing.
The goal for this year is $250,000. The kettles will be at selected stores starting in the next few days and will be at all locations starting Saturday. There will be some things different for bell ringers this year. All will wear masks and gloves and all of them will stand six feet from the kettle.
The Salvation Army hopes that you will help out this holiday season by dropping your change and maybe a few dollars into the kettles each time you pass one this year.