OCTOBER 22, 2009 ISSUE
Reservation Deadline For Salvation Army’s Appreciation Dinner Friday
Volunteers Needed To Ring Bells, Carry Kettles During Seasonal Fundraiser
Major Kent Davis (in uniform) of the Salvation Army’s core command in Hickory, Jerry Walker (center) and an unidentified donor during the 2008 annual Red Kettle fundraiser in Boone. Photo by Peter Morris
The deadline for making reservations for the Salvation Army’s annual dinner to honor supporters and kick off the traditional Red Kettle fundraiser is this Friday, October 23.
The dinner takes place at Boone United Methodist Church, located at 471 New Market Boulevard, on Tuesday, October 27, at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required.
“The dinner is to honor our merchant partners that allow us to ring our bells in front of their businesses,” said Jerry Walker, chairman of the local Salvation Army board that is organizing the dinner.
Many merchants, such as Wal-Mart, Belk’s, Kmart and Lowe’s Foods support the traditional annual red kettle fundraiser, not only by allowing bell-ringers to raise funds outside their store, but by collecting and taking care of kettles during the campaign.
Two other businesses—A Cleaner World at New Market Center and Mast Stores—also support the campaign by collecting winter coats that are distributed free of charge to the cold and needy. Between 700 and 800 coats were distributed last year, and many of them were new ones that Columbia Sportswear donated through Mast Stores.
The coats will be available at the new Salvation Army Family Store at 7979 Highway 105 South, just outside of Foscoe.
An opportunity to make a noise—both joyful and legal—comes up soon after the dinner, when the annual red kettle campaign to help the disadvantaged kicks off.
“We are looking for people to carry the kettles,” said Walker, in a call for further community involvement. He said that many members of the two local Rotary Clubs, and members of the Kiwanis also help regularly, but individuals can also volunteer.
Salvation Army staff and volunteers will start the bell-ringing on Thursday, November 5, and the seasonal jingle—including, hopefully, the jingle of coins dropping into the red kettles—will continue every day except Sunday from then until Christmas Eve. The organization’s fundraising goal this year is $25,000, a total it reached two years ago.
For more information and/or to make reservations, email Walker at jrwalkerchfc@yahoo.com or call at 828-264-8777 or 828-264-1400 by this Friday, October 23.
Want To Go?
Date: Tuesday, October 27
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Boone United Methodist Church
Cost: Free
Community Interest
News & Notes
Events
Arts & Entertainment
