The Salvation Army Launches Annual Red Kettle Fundraising Campaign Early

MILWAUKEE – For the first time in 130 years, The Salvation Army is starting its annual holiday fundraising campaign early across the country in order to rescue Christmas.

Based on the increase in services that we are already providing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are anticipating serving more people this Christmas than ever before by not only helping place gifts under the tree and put food on the table, but also continuing to help pay bills and assist with rent.

Physical red kettles will be placed in the community during the second week of November, however our virtual red kettles are now live!

The Red Kettle Campaign is the largest fundraising event for The Salvation Army of Milwaukee County. About $3.7 million was collected in 2019. Donations help provide winter coats for kids and adults, toys for Christmas, a warm and safe place for the homeless, summer meals, backpacks and school supplies, and disaster services, to name a few.

There are several ways to help give back throughout the season:

• Sign up to be a bell ringer at www.registertoring.com (Due to COVID-19 all bell ringers will wear masks, wipe down kettles after each donation, wear gloves and will stand six feet away from the kettle)
• Sign up to volunteer for any of our holiday programs (Coats for Kids, Toy Shop, Christmas Family Feast) at http://bit.ly/TSAMKEHolidayVolunteers

Donation opportunities:

• Donate by mail by sending a check to The Salvation Army, 11315 W. Watertown Plank Road, Wauwatosa, WI 53226
• Donate by phone by texting MKE to 24365
• Donate online at SAMilwaukee.org

Fundraising opportunities:

• Create your own red kettle fundraising page at: https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/campaign/fundraise-for-good/c175635

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865. Nearly 33 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (Human NeedsIndex.org). Locally, 87 cents of every dollar raised is used to support programs and services in Milwaukee County.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.