CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Donations are down during the seasonal red kettle drivers for the Salvation Army in southern West Virginia.
That according to Maj. Brooks Gilliam, the area commander for Southern West Virginia, who told 580-WCHS that current donations have fallen down around $20,000 from this time last year.
Gilliam is attributing the major dip to a number of factors including Thanksgiving falling a week later than usual this year.
“Some of the partnerships we have with the large retailers, we can’t go out until Black Friday,” Gilliam said. “There has also been a reduction of brick and mortar stores in the Kanawha Valley and lower traffic at the mall.”
The drive started on November 8 with 44 sites in the Kanawha Valley. Gilliam said they have around two dozens volunteers weekly but those numbers are down. That is even with the Salvation Army’s new model to where it pays some people to ring the bells.
“We are able to hire folks that are coming through our programs or shelters or folks that need a little extra money come Christmas time. We were even low on those types of workers. I think we started out with nine workers and worked our way up to 27,” Gilliam said.
The Salvation Army also launched its angel tree program at the same time as the kettle drive. Gilliam said there are still angels available to help make a child’s day on Christmas. The organization is collecting gifts for the children in need until December 12. One week later on December 19, the items are out to the children.
Gilliam said there are a few ways to volunteer for drives including signing up at redkettlevolunteer.org or calling the Charleston offices at 304-343-4548.
Gilliam said the kettle program helps make the holidays brighter for the needy and fund other programs throughout the year, which meets their goal of ‘meeting human need without discrimination.’
“A big part of that need is Christmas time with seasonal assistance,” Gilliam said. “For us, it’s a practical way to show God’s love to those around us as we organize folks to help the least and the lost.”