How do you feed over 17,000 meals a year from the Salvation Army Pendleton Corps’ kitchen, provide family services to our neighbors with the greatest need, and offer a variety of programs for at-risk children and teens?
Being a Red Kettle Bell Ringer is one way to make a significant contribution. This tradition started 127 years ago and continues to this day. Red Kettle Bell Ringers are essential to the continued success of these local community programs offered by Salvation Army to communities of the Pendleton, Hermiston and Milton-Freewater service area. The annual red kettles provide 30 percent of the annual budget funds required for these local support programs.
Additionally, one aspect of the Salvation Army’s mission is to help by giving those in need a paid job for the season. With so many individuals and families struggling this seasonal time of year, the Salvation Army – through the Red Kettle Bell Ringer program – provides a little less stress, and a lot more joy. For some, being a seasonal Red Kettle Bell Ringer is their only source of income for the year.
Likewise, volunteers looking to make their in-kind contribution to the Red Kettle holiday season fundraising campaign also are welcomed, offering their time as may be available. This is an opportunity for company/merchant employee teams, as well as civic, social and church organizations, or families to share a little of their time this holiday season giving back to our community by helping to create those joyful sounds of ringing bells.
If you are interested in joining the Salvation Army’s corps of Red Kettle Bell Ringers this season you can sign-up online (RingOregon.org – and click on Pendleton, Hermiston or Milton-Freewater) or come into the Pendleton Corps administrative office at 150 S.E. Emigrant Avenue, Pendleton. For more information, visit the website or call 541-276-3369.
The Red Kettle Bell Ringer season begins Nov. 16, with kettles located at various retail stores throughout Christmas Eve in Pendleton, Hermiston and Milton-Freewater.
