Salvation Army Kicks off Christmas Fund-raiser

BY NATASHA ASHE
SALISBURY POST

The Salvation Army's bells are ringing again, just in time for the holidays.

Salvation Army captains Roger and Barbara Shelton joined volunteers and supporters for their Christmas Kettle campaign kickoff at Wal-Mart Friday morning.

From now until Christmas Eve, Salvation Army staffers and volunteers from eight civic clubs will stand at various kettle locations throughout Salisbury to ring bells and drum up donations for Christmas projects sponsored by the organization.

Kettles will be set up at Wal-Mart in Salisbury and Kannapolis, K-Mart in Salisbury, Salisbury Mall, Big Lots, Harris Teeter, and in area Winn-Dixie and Food Lion locations.

The proceeds received from the kettle campaign will be used to provide services to 500 needy families through various programs, including:

nThe annual Toy Store at the Salvation Army office, 620 Bringle Ferry Road. The store allows parents to pick out toys for their children from a big display arranged in the center's youth hall.

nThe Christmas Stocking program. This program provides children with stockings that volunteers fill with small toys and gifts.

Christmas food bags. The bags go to needy families from the agency's food pantry.

Canned goods during the holidays are donated by Salisbury-Rowan Schools students who conduct food drives at their schools.

"Without the schools, we would lack in the food we provide," said Barbara Shelton. "I don't know what we would do, because they provide a wonderful service.

The Salvation Army also helps Rowan Information and Referral to administer the Christmas Bureau. Family who need help during Christmas should apply through the Christmas Bureau.

The Sheltons celebrated their two-year anniversary this month as leaders of Salisbury's Salvation Army. They and an army of volunteers provide numerous services and activities for the community throughout the year.

Roger Shelton said the mission of the non-profit organization, a United Way agency, is to meet the basic human needs by providing food, clothing, medicines and help for people facing eviction and loss of utility service.

The Salvation Army also assists with natural disasters worldwide, conducts after-school programs, provides counseling, sends up to 30 children to Camp Walter Johnson in Denton and sponsors a camp on the coast for senior citizens in late August.

The Christian-based organization also holds religious services every Sunday and during the week. They welcome all denominations.

To volunteer during the holiday season or throughout the year, call the office at 636-6491.