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ELKINS -- The Salvation Army is currently in the midst of its biggest fundraiser of the year as volunteers are stationed outside of local businesses ringing bells and collecting money in the iconic Red Kettles.
Elkins Red Cross Office Administrator Christina Smith said donations collected during the Red Kettle Campaign stay local and directly make an impact on the lives in the community.
"The Red Kettle Campaign is our main operating budget for services and to establish our operating funds for the year," Smith told The Inter-Mountain. "The money is used for any of the utility bills we pay for our clients and the food pantry. It's our main fundraiser of the year."
The local Salvation Army, which is based in Clarksburg, serves Randolph, Harrison, Gilmer, Doddridge, Upshur, Barbour, Lewis and Braxton counties. The organization is currently seeking more volunteers to help with the Red Kettle Campaign in each of those eight counties.
"We could use some more volunteers to do some of the bell ringing for us," Smith said. "Between Randolph County and Barbour counties we currently have six locations we are working at."
Those interested in becoming a bell ringer can do so by visiting the Register to Ring website at www.registertoring.com. The site will help volunteers find the perfect time and place to ring bells.
The Salvation Army's other major initiative during the holiday season is its Angel Tree Program, which will provide gifts to approximately 2,000 children in the local community. Families are chosen for the Angel Tree Program ahead of time and the gifts provided will be distributed in the month of December.
"Families apply sometime in October for the Angel Tree Program," Smith said. "We will serve about 2,000 children all together in eight counties around the area. We do it every year and have about 10 different distributions in those counties."
The Salvation Army serves more than 25 million people across the United States each year. It distributes more than 55 million meals for the hungry, provides more than 10 million nights of shelter for the homeless, and distributes countless Christmas gifts for children.
For more information, contact the Elkins Salvation Army Thrift Store at 304-647-1173.