Salvation Army kettles

By AMY S. LANSDON

News Editor

Bells are still ringing and pocket change is clinking in the Salvation Army Christmas Kettles around town.

The Kettle Campaign is held annually by the local Salvation Army to raise money for needy families in the area. Volunteers from all over the community have been ringing the Salvation Army bells since Nov. 14 and will continue through 5 p.m. Christmas Eve.

Cindy Duke, director of the Pike County Salvation Army, said the campaign has been going well this year, but there is still a long way to go to reach the goal.

"So far about $10,000 has been donated," Duke said. "Our goal is $18,000 this year and we have only two weeks left to meet it. We’ve gotten more paper money than coins this year, and that’s been good. But those coins really add up."

The contributions the Pike County Salvation Army make to the community are different from those of the Pike County Christmas Program. Although both organizations help the needy, they are two separate entities.

"Our focus is to help those families who have fallen through the cracks and are not eligible for the Pike County Christmas Program," Duke said. "The families for the Christmas program have been chosen and we want to try to help the others."

Some of the people who will benefit from the Salvation Army are the needy, the elderly, children of prisoners and people in nursing homes.

"People need to remember what the money is for," Duke said. "We use it to help the needy in Pike County and for emergency household situations that come up during the year."

People who have volunteered their time to the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign have added to the success of the program.

"Our volunteers have been great," Duke said. "On the few cold days and nights we have had they have stood outside of the stores and kept the bells ringing. I appreciate everything the volunteers have done to help us make the campaign a success."

Beside dropping cash and coins into the Salvation Army Kettles there are other ways to make donations to the Salvation Army.

Duke said people can drop items off at the store on 70 Court Square in downtown Troy or if they have large items that need to be picked up they can call Duke at 807-0200 to schedule a pick up. Duke also said receipts are available for those who wish to use their donations as a tax write-off.

"Those people who are on the Salvation Army Mail Appeal and want their donations to stay in Pike County to help the needy at home need to bring their donations to the store or mail them directly to us," Duke said. "If they are not brought to use they will be distributed outside the county."

There are only a couple of weeks left to make donations to the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign. In three weeks the campaign has raised about $10,000 but there is still $8,000 that needs to be raised.

"This is when we need people to really start getting generous," said Duke. "The last couple of weeks can always make or break us."

The Salvation Army is open from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.