BROOKINGS – In a year where many things look different, residents may have seen a familiar sight around Brookings. Starting in late November, The Salvation Army of Brookings County launched its annual Red Kettle Campaign.
Red kettles and bell ringers can be found at Walmart, Hy-Vee, Lewis Drug and Runnings this holiday season, and the organization is asking for the community’s help to fulfill its mission.
“We help in three program areas: financial assistance, emergency disaster services, and material assistance,” said Samantha Turnquist, service center manager. “We help in temporary, emergency situations, and the biggest needs for financial assistance we see are for eviction notices and utility shut off notices. We really try to keep the most vulnerable people in our community in their homes and keep their heat on. This year, we also helped over 300 families stay warm with our annual Share the Warmth coat drive and giveaway. We rely heavily on Red Kettle donations to continue these services year to year and are so grateful for all of our donors that help make that happen.”
Jessica Hansen, the group’s volunteer bell ringing coordinator, highlighted a few challenges to this year’s campaign.
“This year there are some groups and individuals unable to ring due to COVID-19 concerns. We had one of our longtime bell ringing sites close. We also anticipate less foot traffic in stores and less people carrying cash, which will definitely affect what’s ending up in our kettles,” Hansen said.
The group has worked hard to make changes to adapt to the current situation. Among those changes are:
• Community members are asked to go to www.registertoring.com if they are interested in helping out. Hansen said, “On the Register to Ring website, people can search Brookings and see all available ringing shifts and sign up online to ring. We definitely still need ringers, so if people have an hour or two they can spare, we would really appreciate it. The Salvation Army adopted nationally mandated safety protocols to help ensure the safety of bell ringers, donors and partners, so it’s a great volunteer opportunity to be a part of right now.”
• A partnership with the Brookings Walmart was formed to offer customers the option to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar and donate the difference to The Salvation Army. Customers can do this in stores at manned cash registers, on Walmart.com, or through the Walmart app. The option to donate will run through Dec. 31.
• Contactless payment was added as an option on all Red Kettle stands, making it easier to give back during the Christmas season by making a gift with Apple Pay or Google Pay. Simply “bump” or scan the logo on Red Kettle signs to make a digital donation. Donors will be directed to a custom donation page that accepts Apple or Google payment options, and an email receipt will be sent directly to your phone.
• This year, the Salvation Army of Brookings County will be part of South Dakota Day of Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1. Ringers will be at Lewis Drug from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day to collect donations.
Every donation provides help and hope to the most vulnerable, and all gifts stay within the community in which they are given. To give online, can visit www.BrookingsRedKettle.org. For more information, call the Salvation Army office at 692-8863.
