The kettle that saved Christmas

“Carrie, we have a $10,000 check for your Matching Kettle Campaign." This one-line email made a huge difference in The Salvation Army’s Kettle campaign last year. Tulsa Gold & Silver answered our plea in our Red Kettle Campaign to match kettle donations for one Saturday last December.

It was raining on that Saturday, which usually leads to lower donations. But that did not happen. People responded to the match, we even had a check for $5,000 in one of the kettles with a note that said “I’m so glad this donation will be doubled.”

We’re now looking for more generous companies to follow Tulsa Gold & Silver’s lead. A Matching Sponsor gets its company name on every red kettle in the Tulsa area on a chosen Saturday.  A banner with the company logo will also hang in our Joy Center throughout the holiday season. Thousands of people will see it when they come to our Joy Center during November and December.

The Salvation Army is helping 4,200 families this year. Keep in mind, some of these families have as many as seven members.

2011 Christmas Report:

                                         Total Persons Served      13,256
                           Total Families Served      4,200
                           Toys Distributed               27,156
                           Christmas Eve Feeding    533

The red kettles are the most important “tools” in the holiday outreach program. The Tulsa Area Salvation Army relies on the success of these kettles to provide a better holiday to thousands of Tulsa area people.  For additional information about the programs of The Salvation Army, or if you would like to be a Matching Sponsor, contact me at (918) 587-7801 (X121) or by email at carrie_salce@uss.salvationarmy.org.

-Carrie