The 2016 Red Kettle season was a successful one for the Pike County Salvation Army in Troy.

The annual fundraising campaign got off to a slow start on Black Friday and kettle donations were slow for a while but Kim May, local Salvation Army director, said Pike Countians have always been generous in their giving and were again this year.

“The closer to Christmas, the more generous people were,” she said. “The money raised with our Red Kettle campaign is used to help people here at home, as are all the programs of the Salvation Army. The people of Pike County are generous in helping their friends and neighbors in need.”

The total giving for the 2016 Red Kettle campaign was $45,324, which topped the 2015 total of $44,000.

“We also had $5,600 is sponsorships,” May said. “We greatly appreciation all of those who manned the kettles, our sponsors and all of those who gave so generously. The money raised will make it possible for us to assist more people in different ways.

“With the extremely cold weather, we get many requests for assistance with utility bills. Those living on fixed incomes, especially the elderly, sometimes have to choose between paying their utility bills and having prescriptions re-filled. We thank everyone that helped make the 2016 Red Kettle campaign successful.”

May said 210 children were adopted off the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree and received clothes and toys they would not have had otherwise.

The Salvation Army’s food pantry benefitted from the canned food drive sponsored by WTBF-Radio and Continental Cinema. Those who attended the Christmas movies, one for adults and one for children, each donated two canned food items for the Salvation Army’s food pantry as admission.

May asked that donated items not be left on the street when the service center is closed.

“We want to make sure donations are protected from the weather or from vandalism,” she said.

With a new year already underway, May said the Pike County Salvation Army is making plans for its annual Empty Bowls Luncheon that will be held on April 21.

“The Empty Bowls is designed to raise awareness of those that often go to bed hungry at night and raise funds to feed those in our community that are among them,” May said. “The luncheon is also a time of community fellowship.”

Each person who attends the luncheon has an opportunity to select an “empty bowl” from a large display of handmade clay bowls, dine at the soup and stew bar and enjoy the entertainment.

“This year, we have handmade bowls by Larry Percy’s pottery students at Troy University, Scott and Jeanie Swindall, the potters at the Colley Senior Complex and art students at Pike County High School,” May said.

The Pike County Salvation Army will have a camp stew sale at $10 a quart in February with pickup on February 2. To reserve an order, call 334-08-1069, 268-2553 or 672-4481.

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