Holiday season traditions such as Christmas concerts may not survive the COVID social distancing test for large gatherings, yet any holiday traditions we can hold onto may give us the feeling of hope this Thanksgiving and Christmas. A small red pot dangling from a pole symbolizes the hope our community can come together and support those in need. However, the Salvation Army of McHenry County won’t have enough of those “small red pots dangling from a pole” manned to meet their goal if volunteers don’t sign up soon to ring bells for the Red Kettle campaign.
Major Barbara Owen of the Salvation Army of McHenry County is directing her army toward easing what may otherwise be harsh realities embedded in the coldness of the COVID phases in Illinois. Owen exudes confidence and admiration in the goodness of the community coming forth before the Red Kettle campaign begins on November 19. She knows more is asked of the Salvation Army at their headquarters in Crystal Lake and it’s because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’ve already started the Christmas campaign called Rescue Christmas. We’ve set up online red kettles so that people can donate online before the physical kettles are out,” Owen said. At last check, Owen noted only 15 volunteers had signed up as volunteer bell ringers. “We would love to have another 150 volunteers to sign up for the kettle campaign. In our schedule right now, we have 7,000 hours that need filling but we have only 157 hours filled,” Owen said.
A full army of volunteers isn’t the only need for a successful Rescue Christmas fundraising campaign. The Red Kettle campaign also must secure locations for bell ringers besides the Jewel Food chain that has already committed. The Jewel-Osco at 13200 Village Green Drive in Huntley is just one of several Jewel-Osco stores in McHenry County that has a contract with the Salvation Army. However the Army is waiting on three other major chains to let Owen know their intention for Rescue Christmas. Owen says Angelo’s Fresh Market is one of the local food stores that allows for bell ringing. Establishing the sites plays a critical role in how many people the Salvation Army may help. “We have been responding to people who have been directly affected by COVID such as through loss of income, hours, and employment,” Owen said. “Some people have had to stop working because of child care.” Owen was referring to how parents have adapted to their children’s school system whether the school had either a hybrid system of education in place or strictly online instruction at home because of COVID. Owen has also seen the numbers increase from people seeking rental assistance and utility assistance. The increase in demand has led to a higher campaign goal for the Red Kettle campaign. “Our kettle goal this year is $217,000, which is up a bit from years past. Our kettle goal hasn’t increased but our online goal has increased from $5,000 to $20,000,” Owen said.
Not only is the Salvation Army looking for more volunteers and locations for bell ringers, “we’re looking for businesses that are willing to take the countertop kettles,” Owen said as she moved right into an explanation. “Some of our businesses that we were sending out the countertop kettles might not have people coming into their stores or businesses right now, especially at restaurants with some outdoor seating. That’s why we’re looking for new businesses to take some of the countertop kettles,” Owen said.
COVID or not, the Salvation Army has always found an army of volunteers and officers serving the community. This season is no different despite the added level of service necessary to meet growing demand because of COVID. “It’s an added layer of something to be mindful of, but it’s something necessary for us to continue serving people who are in need and just being thoughtful of helping people with rent and other things,” Owen said.
Owen has her staff do temperature checks and asks specific questions to people coming in. The bell ringers are reminded about social distancing. When people are putting money into the kettle, we’re asking everybody to wear a mask and this year instead of having Salvation Army red aprons, we’re giving the bell ringers volunteer tags and we’ll have hand sanitizer with the buckets so the bell and bucket may be sanitized just to make sure everyone is staying safe.” This is a Salvation Army national response that has staff wiping down the insides and outsides of all the kettles at night when they’re dropped off for counting donations.
A request for food led the local Salvation Army with the aid of volunteers and the community to open up a temporary food pantry at the McHenry County headquarters at 290 W. Crystal Lake Avenue in Crystal Lake. “Volunteers are coming in and manning and running the food pantry for us so we’ve not had to hire extra people to serve because the community has been generous in helping and donating to the food pantry,” Owen said. The food pantry will remain open through the end of the year before it’s reevaluated.
Some of the money from the kettles will help pay for a McHenry County Thanksgiving event scheduled for November 25. The community Thanksgiving will change slightly from previous years. “Instead of people going through the line to get their food,” according to Owen, “we will have people that will serve them so they can still come in and eat or they can take a container to go.”
The success of the Red Kettle campaign is significant for the Salvation Army of McHenry County to maintain its programs because 30 percent of its annual fundraising comes from the money you drop in the kettles, online, or in the countertop kettles. To give the Salvation Army the best chance of reaching their goal, they’ll truly need an army of volunteers.
Register now to bell ring and help raise money to serve McHenry County. www.registertoring.com
You may call the Salvation Army office at (815) 455-2769.
