In December of 1891, a Salvation Army Captain in San Francisco resolved to provide a free Christmas dinner to the area’s poor. But how would he pay for the food? Reminded of his days as a sailor in Liverpool, England, he recalled a large pot called “Simpson’s Pot” into which charitable donations were thrown by passers-by. The next morning, he obtained permission to put a similar pot at the Oakland ferry landing at the foot of Market Street, so the passengers could see it as they boarded.
The tradition spread and by 1897 donations bought more than 150,000 Christmas dinners. In 1898, the New York World hailed The Salvation Army kettles as “the newest and most novel device for collecting money.” The Newspaper also observed, “There is a man in charge to see that contributions are not stolen.” Those were the first volunteers.
In 1901, kettle contributions in New York City provided funds for the first mammoth sit-down dinner in Madison Square Garden, a custom that continued for many years. Today, the homeless and poor are still invited to share holiday dinners and festivities at hundreds of Salvation Army centers, but families also are given grocery checks to buy and prepare their dinners at home.
Annually, The Salvation Army in the United States aids more than 6,000,000 people at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Kettles have changed since the first utilitarian cauldron was set up in San Francisco. Some new kettles have a self-ringing bell and even the ability to donate via credit card. These technological advances help keep the brand relevant to a new generation of donors and volunteers who are “Doing the Most Good” in their communities.
The Loudoun Corps, which has served the community for around 30 years, is focused on meeting basic human needs. Our Emergency Distribution program provides rental and utility assistance, eviction prevention, emergency food assistance, clothing and furniture vouchers, diapers, gifts for children at Christmas, holiday meals and case management. Funds raised through Red Kettles are vital to our ability to provide financial assistance, and volunteers are critical to that effort.
You’ll see Red Kettles stationed throughout Loudoun from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve. Volunteers are the difference between an empty kettle and one that raises significant donations. National Honor Society students at Dominion High School are among the most loyal volunteers, thanks to the leadership of Tom Chuba, a former chemistry teacher and now testing coordinator. Tom first recruited students from what is now called Junior Optimists International and later The National Honor Society because he received a request for volunteers from the Loudoun Corps. He has since become a quasi-volunteer coordinator. He first motivated students with a challenge: both he and the principal would each take shifts.
Over the years students have made their volunteering as much fun as possible, running a power chord to a boom box in the early days, and later playing iTunes on their phones. Two students once played their electric guitars. As many as 1,200 students have volunteered since they started ringing 15 years ago, and their kettle collections typically come in first or second place among all locations, a particular point of pride. Says Tom, “They're really proud of how much they can they can raise. They know that if they stand there and look totally bored, people aren't going to donate. But if they interact and are cheerful, the donations pour in, so they work at it!”
It is difficult to accurately document the amount of funds that have been raised by Dominion High School, but taking the average of $2,000 per year, that amounts to close to $30,000. As important as the funding is to the mission’s bottom line, motivating young people to serve and interact face-to-face with their neighbors is a deliverable that will offer long-standing value to the community.
Tom chuckled as he said, “My wife knows there will be no vacation in December.” But he explained, “I am committed to the project because I can see how much good the Salvation Army does in the community. Our student volunteers learn more about reaching out to those less fortunate by participating in the Red Kettle program. They can relate to the days they used to drop money in the kettle because it was fun. Now, they’re on the other side helping, knowing how much each contribution assists others. We’re all committed to leaving our community and thus the world a better place than we found it.”
For more information about the Red Kettle program and volunteering visit https://loudoun.salvationarmypotomac.org/loudoun-county/ or sign up to volunteer at Register to Ring – https://bit.ly/LoudouRedKettle. Red Kettle Partnerships are also needed. Make a difference and gain exposure for your company by sponsoring a Red Kettle site where for 25 days your brand is in full view if thousands of holiday shoppers. Call me at 571-510-2196 or email bonnie.inman@uss.salvationarmy.org
"Our student volunteers learn more about reaching out to those less fortunate by participating in the Red Kettle program. They can relate to the days they used to drop money in the kettle because it was fun. Now, they’re on the other side helping, knowing how much each contribution assists others. We’re all committed to leaving our community and thus the world a better place than we found it.” Tom Chubb, Dominion High School
