The Elgin Salvation Army is getting a big jump on the Christmas season by launching its annual Red Kettle Campaign next week — a month earlier than they have in the past.
They also plan to unveil a new program to help children heading into foster home care at the Tuesday night event behing held at Old Republic Kitchen + Bar in Elgin, said Rick Reigner, the nonprofit’s resource development director.
“We are definitely earlier than last year by a month,” he said. “This gives us more time to identify and connect with businesses and groups before everyone gets caught up in the holiday rush.”
According to Reigner, many Corps start ramping up after Labor Day due to the time and logistics it takes to recruit volunteers.
“Bell ringing starts Nov. 8 so we need to focus on recruiting now,” Reigner said. “At the end of the day, we are trying to avoid kettle locations without ringers. No ringer equals no donations at that location for the day.”
Maria Padilla, the agency’s local social services coordinator, said they’re seeking help with many aspects of the campaign.
“We need all sorts of volunteers, not just bell-ringers outside stores,” Padilla said. “There are a lot of opportunities and so much to do.”
Volunteer jobs include working with the virtual kettles seeking donations online, setting up for the toy giveaway in December and helping parents at the makeshift toy shop set up at their Elgin community center, she said.
Elgin Salvation Army Major Roberto Viquez said another reason for the early kickoff is because of increased demand for the organization’s services.
As of this September, the Elgin Corps had assisted 188 families by providing boxes of food and household supplies, Viquez said. A year ago, such aid was provided to 88 families, he said.
The theme of this year’s campaign is “Love Beyond Christmas.” Padilla said the “beyond” refers to the Salvation Army assisting people with services throughout the year, not just during the holiday season.
The Tuesday event is being hosted by the Northern Kane County and Elgin Area chambers of commerce. Organizations and businesses can sign up that night and through the online “Ring For 8 Feel Great” campaign, information for which is available at centralusa.salvationarmy.org/elgin/ring-for-8-feel-great, Reigner said.
“We also need the community’s financial support” in reaching their fundraising goal of $235,000, Viquez said.
The Elgin Salvation Army fell about $34,000 short of its $235,000 goal in its 2023 Red Kettle campaign. That means that while they were able to maintain its services, they had to cut back on in-house expenses, Viquez said.
As part of the Love Beyond Christmas campaign kickoff, they’ll be unveiling their new program, Operation Loving Hope. It’s a partnership with Bear Family Restaurants, run in conjunction with the Elgin Police Department, in which they hope to ease the transition for children who are placed in the foster care system, Padilla said.
The program will give foster children access to a room at the community center at which they can choose a suitcase, pajamas, socks, undergarments and toys to help them as they go through the process, which can be a traumatic experience, Padilla said.
Tuesday’s campaign kickoff will be held from 4:40 to 6:30 p.m. and will feature free appetizers, a 50/50 drawing, door prizes, giveaways, and music.
Open to the public, reservations must be made by 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, by emailing rocio.rodriguez@usc.salvationarmy.org. Guests should provide their names and the names of up to three people who will be attending with them.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
