It's Red Kettle Day: Donate To Make A Difference
DETROIT (WWJ) - It's crunch time for the Salvation Amy as the charity enters the final days in this year's effort to help needy Metro Detroiters. Those Red Kettles will be around town through Christmas Eve, with Bell Ringers working to meet the organization's $8.2 million goal.
Donations have been down this year to the Salvation Army, but the need is great.
Can't make it to a kettle?
- Donate online at this link -
Call 877-SAL-MICH or make a $10 donation by texting "GOODMICH" to 80888
The Metro Detroit divison's Major Mark Anderson says that with 16.8 percent of Michigan residents living in poverty — the highest percentage in four decades — they simply can't afford to fall short.
"We are counting on the generosity of metro Detroiter's to help us keep doing the most good this holiday season and throughout the entire year," he said.
Where does your money go? 85 cents of every dollar goes right to the people who need help; $10 helps feed one person for an entire month.
"We have folks who come to us and they need that food and we provide them with that food," said Captain Caleb Senn heads up the Dearborn Heights Salvation Army. "And $10 ... I mean, what do you spend $10 on? It's easy to get rid of $10, but to do something with it, to resource someone with a miracle for their live this Christmas is an amazing thing."
WWJ Newsradio 950's Beth Fisher reports the Salvation Army will help some 13,000 Southeast Michigan families in Metro Detroit.
Sarah is a single mom who stopped by a Salvation Army toy shop to receive box of food, a Kroger's gift card and toys for her three children.
"My children wouldn't have any gifts for Christmas at all. So, now they get to open some things, nice things," she said. "I appreciate it. I wish I could give back. I really wish I could ... there's no words to express how I feel about it."
Jessica Dwyer of Garden City hasn't been able to work because of an illness and said her husband doesn't make enough to support them and their two children.
"I'm blessed. We are praising the lord," Dwyer said. "This is a blessing to us. This is honestly the first time we've been in this position and, without you guys, I honestly don't know where we would be right now."
Thursday is also "Paint the City Red" day in the D. Several Detroit businesses are show their support for the campaign to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Salvation Army
"We are tonight going to change the logo on the Ren Cen, at least part of the time, to a big shield. They're going to change the banding to red," said Anderson. "We've got the buildings downtown Detroit who've come together and said yes, we're going to make a difference today and we're going to paint the town red."
Bell ringers at the charity's famous Red Kettles will collect donations at storefronts through Dec. 24. Donations are also accepted via phone at 877-SAL-MICH and online at www.salmich.org/ through the Red Kettle Campaign's last day, set for Jan. 31, 2012.
You can also text 'GOODMICH' to 80888 to donate $10. One more option: mail a check to The Salvation Army at 16130 Northland Drive, Southfield, MI 48075.
