The Salvation Army kicked off its new “Festive Fun in the Sun” initiative and announced an ambitious $250,000 fundraising goal for their annual holiday season Red Kettle Campaign.  At a Christmas themed Savannah Theatre, the Salvation Army’s Major Paul Egan announced the quarter of a million-dollar fundraising goal and asked for the community’s commitment to help this 120-year-old local non-profit organization continue and build on the vital services provided to those most in need in the Coastal Empire. 

Immediately following this announcement, and courtesy of sponsors Dan Vaden, the elves arrived in a Chevy Silverado “All elves broke loose” in Chippewa Square as holiday elves raced away to begin an intensive week of raising awareness and encouraging community participation in a social media competition which will run through 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 11. This sweepstakes is one of the highlights of the “Festive Fun in the Sun”’ week when one lucky winner will win two tickets to the Atlanta Braves, with one-night stay hotel accommodations, courtesy of ESPN Coastal Radio. 

To enter the sweepstakes, people should keep an eye out for one of The Salvation Army elves around Savannah, Pooler and Tybee during the week and take a selfie.  By posting this to the Savannah Salvation Army’s Facebook page along with #elfieSAV, entrants will be automatically entered into the drawing and the winner will be announced Thursday evening at 6.30pm.

“The Red Kettle Campaign is the best way for the community to get involved and we wanted to have a little “festive fun in the sun” and get ahead this year for our holiday season fundraiser”, said Major Egan.  “If this community didn’t care so much, we could not provide desperately needed food and lodging to people in need in our region year-round. Less than 1% of our funding comes from the government, so we are appealing to everybody to sign up as a volunteer, sponsor or donate to our annual fundraiser which kicks off on November 14 this year.”

The public will have an opportunity to donate directly to the famous red kettles around the region during the holiday season but donations are welcomed throughout the year via the organization’s website at https://salvationarmygeorgia.org/savannah/ or by calling 912-651-7420. Interested participants can also join the challenge “Champion of the Bells” where their group competes to see who can raise the most money ringing the bell. The Champion will receive a special award and official bragging rights. The Salvation Army is always in need of volunteers to ring the kettles at partner locations during the holiday season. Flexible volunteer opportunities are available for scheduling at www.redkettlevolunteer.com or e-mail Kayla Lentz at [email protected].The Salvation Army is grateful to sponsors: Dan Vaden Chevrolet and Cadillac, The SunTrust Bank, Panera Bread, Coastal Heritage Society, The Savannah Theatre and its media sponsors.

Neal Wilson, General Manager at Dan Vaden Chevrolet and Vaden Cadillac commented, “as major supporters of the Salvation Army we would encourage other business owners and individuals to commit to helping this wonderful organization meet and exceed its goal.  They are there for people in our own community who are at the very lowest point in their lives.  Many are hungry, homeless and have nowhere else to turn.”

The Salvation Army is also inviting local businesses to join forces with The Salvation Army in the 2019 Red Kettle Campaign and the Battle for Good and attend an informative business luncheon, at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, July 11 at the Savannah Theatre, 222 Bull St. Attendees will enjoy a catered lunch provided by Panera and hear from people whose lives have been significantly and positively impacted by The Salvation Army. To RSVP for the business lunch or to sponsor the 2019 Red Kettle Campaign please contact Aaron Odum at [email protected] or call 904-982-4751.

The concept of the Red Kettle Campaign began in 1891 when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee was troubled by how many poor individuals in San Francisco were going hungry. During the holiday season, he resolved to provide a free Christmas dinner for the destitute and poverty-stricken, but did not know how to fund the project. As he pondered, he remembered his sailor days in England where there was a large, iron kettle that passersby tossed a coin or two into to help the poor. The following day Captain McFee placed a similar pot on the street with a sign that read, "Keep the Pot Boiling." He soon had the money to see that the needy people were properly fed at Christmas. Today in the U.S., The Salvation Army assists more than four-and-a-half million people during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Everywhere, public contributions to The Salvation Army kettles enable the organization to continue its year-round efforts at helping those who would otherwise be forgotten.