The Salvation Army of Savannah (TSA) is starting its annual Red Kettle Campaign early and needs volunteers to help rescue Christmas by signing up through their new online volunteer platform. The iconic red kettles are at risk this year due to COVID-19 while requests for services are at an all-time high, and TSA is asking the community to lend helping hands and volunteer to support vital fundraising this holiday season. 

As people begin thinking about how they would like to give back around the holidays, TSA is asking the community to volunteer to ring bells for their Red Kettle Campaign. This support will ensure the organization can continue providing desperately needed food and lodging to people in need in our region year-round. Based on the increase in services already provided in response to the pandemic, the organization is likely to serve up to 155 percent more people in 2020 with Christmas assistance, including putting food on the table, paying bills, providing shelter and helping place gifts under the tree – assuming the resources are available. 

If individuals, groups or businesses are interested in volunteering, they can use the user-friendly website to register and select their time and location at www.registertoring.com. Volunteers are required now more than ever to ring for their community and to rescue Christmas for those who are in desperate need of help and hope. One hour of bell ringing can provide a meal for a family of four, and an entire day of ringing (8 hours) can provide lodging for a family of four for one month. 

“The Red Kettle Campaign is the best way for the community to get involved with our mission of Doing The Most Good in the greater Savannah region. Every year, we are in need of volunteer bell ringers as they raise more donations on average, but less than 10% of our bell ringers are volunteers. This guarantees more funds are raised during this campaign to Rescue Christmas,” said The Salvation Army of Savannah’s Major Paul Egan. “This holiday season, our organization is in even greater need of volunteers as we expect to see a greater need for our services - more than any in recent history. The Red Kettle Campaign is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and it is vital to ensure we have enough bell ringers to meet our goal. We invite individuals, civic groups, businesses, and other troops to join us in Rescuing Christmas for the most vulnerable.”

Those who are interested in helping, but unable to volunteer, will have the opportunity to donate directly to the famous red kettles around the region this holiday season and donations are also welcomed via the online donation platform at www.RedKettleSAV.givesmart.com or by texting “RedKettleSAV” to 76278. Through this platform, supporters can set up their own Red Kettle with a donation goal for how much they want to help raise and share among family, friends, and coworkers. Individuals can now donate to the red kettles at every location through Apple and Google Pay using their phone for a safe, secure and easy payment option. Every donation provides help and hope to those in need, and all gifts stay within the greater Savannah community.

The Salvation Army has served greater Savannah for the past 120 years and has always supported the most vulnerable in our community. Whether the community is affected by COVID-19, hurricanes, floods, fires or the Spanish influenza that impacted the world over a century ago, The Salvation Army continues to serve those who need it the most.

For more information about TSA, please visit www.salvationarmygeorgia.org/savannah/ or call 912-200-3004.