This article was originally published in The Examiner on Nov. 24, 2016.
By Eleanor Skelton
Staff Writer
The Salvation Army kicked off the 114th Red Kettle Campaign at Parkdale Mall on Friday, Nov. 18. The Kettle Kickoff lasted from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and several local celebrities rang bells in front of Dillard’s, including Mayor Becky Ames, Brad Pennison from Beaumont Fire-Rescue, Todd Jackson from the Beaumont Police Department, Dean Conwell from the Beaumont Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and Mike Payton of CommunityBank of Texas.
The mayor was able to attend despite a stormy forecast that threatened to rain out the kickoff.
“That kettle was probably our most profitable kettle,” said Sandra Borne, area director of the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
“The Red Kettle Campaign is our largest fundraiser for the Salvation Army,” she added, explaining that she hopes shoppers will remember “why we’re ringing bells this holiday season” when they see the bell ringers and red kettles.
“The Salvation Army is thankful for the partnership with Parkdale Mall and other local businesses that are supporting the 2016 kettle campaign. Our hope is to help families and individuals in need throughout Beaumont during the holidays and year-round,” Salvation Army Corp Captain Alan Gonzalez said in a statement. “We want to make sure everyone knows that if they are in need, we are going to do all we can to help.”
The Red Kettle Campaign will continue until Christmas Eve. Borne stressed the importance of local volunteers.
“We were really counting on the community to help us ring bells this year: Sunday school classes, civic groups, Girl Scout troops, even families,” she said. “That helps us out because otherwise we would have to pay people to ring the bells. Kids love it, and it’s a great way to teach kids how to give back to others. Plus it’s fun.”
Anyone interested in volunteering should call (409) 896-2361 or visit http://www.salvationarmytexas.org/beaumont to register.
Eleanor Skelton 