Salvation Army needs help

Betty Donahue drops a donation into a red kettle after the seasonal sound of a small bell rung by Pam Austin signaled the start of the non-profit's fundraiser. Austin likes to ring the bell because it gives her a reason to "Get away from the house and gives me something to do." Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Pam Austin, who rings a bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle drive, sits in front of the entrance Kmart on East Innes Street on Friday the start of the annual drive for funds for the nonprofit. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Salvation Army bell ringer Brenda Morris holds the wireless device on which she can swipe a credit card to process a kettle donation. Photo by Mark Wineka, Salisbury Post

The new wireless devices above some Salvation Army buckets allow bell ringers to process credit card donations. The average cash contribution to the bucket is $2, while the average donation using a credit card is $15. Photo by Mark Wineka, Salisbury Post

By Shavonne Potts

spotts@salisburypost.com

The Salvation Army hopes the economy won't deter people from giving this year, especially since this year's needs are greater.

"I'm pretty sure it's going to impact us. There are closures of some of the biggest employers in town," said Capt. Jason Smith, corps officer for the Salvation Army of Salisbury.

Despite the state of the economy, Smith said, the Salvation Army hopes some new technology will make up for the downfall.

This year, the Salvation Army established cashless kettles where people can use their debit/credit cards if they don't have cash.

"Regardless of the situation more people are needing help," he said.

Last year the Salvation Army raised more than $52,000 and have set a goal of $70,000 this year.

Smith said the higher goal is simply because more people need help than in the previous year.

The Red Kettle Campaign funds the Angel Tree program and supplements the agency's budget for the year.

More than 25,000 Salvation Army volunteers go out across the country to ring bells and solicit spare change donations to the red kettles from holiday shoppers, Smith said.

"These funds help us throughout the year," he said.

This is the first year the cashless kettles have been in Rowan County. The cashless kettles are not in every city and were requested by the Salisbury area office.

There were some test sites in Dallas and other metro areas, Smith said.

The cashless kettles will be at both entrances of Walmart, Kmart and Harris Teeter.

Local retailers and businesses are also sponsoring the Salvation Army Angel Tree. The Salvation Army will provide Christmas gifts for each of its Angels. This year the trees will be decorated with more than 1,200 angel tags, representing people in need.

Also, each family that signed up for Christmas assistance will get a food basket, which will include everything for their Christmas dinner. Rowan County Angels can be adopted through virtual Angel Trees that are sponsored by both JCPenney and Fox Charlotte.

The number of angels this year is about the same as last year, Smith said.

The Salvation Army is adding days to cater to those people who were recently laid off at local Salisbury companies like W.A. Brown and Son also MI Windows and Doors.

They had previously accepted applications through early November and are adding Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 as application process days.

People who wish to place their child's name on the Angel Tree must go to the Salvation Army, 620 Bringle Ferry Road.

One of those Angel Tree wishlist has already been returned, Smith said.

The child has received everything he wanted on his list. The gifts will be wrapped and distributed closer to Christmas.

Angel Tree locations are throughout the city, including Walmart, Cracker Barrel and First Bank.

Another way the community is helping with this year's programs is many of the schools in the Rowan-Salisbury School System are holding canned food drives. The food will then go to a needy family.

Food can be brought to the Bringle Ferry Road location.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church.

If you are interested in volunteering or donating, contact the Salvation Army office at 704-636-6491 or drop donations off at 620 Bringle Ferry Road.

Monetary donations and Angel adoptions can also be made at www.salvationarmycarolinas.org/salisbury.